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Vol.10 No. 50 April 21-27, 2018 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

India, Nordic nations agree

to deepen cooperation
Modi invokes Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal in address to diaspora in Sweden
Stockholm: India and the five
Nordic nations of Sweden,
Denmark, Iceland, Norway and
Finland on Tuesday agreed to
deepen cooperation in innova‑
tion and climate change in the
first India‑Nordic Summit held Damascus skies erupt with surface to air missile fire as the US and
during the course of Indian allies launch missiles targeting chemical weapons production
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's units in Syria on April 14, 2018. (Photo courtesy AP)
visit here.
"During the Summit, the Prime
Ministers pledged to deepen
cooperation between India and
the Nordic countries and focused
their discussions on key issues
No escalation
related to global security, eco‑
nomic growth, innovation and
climate change," the Indian
Continued on page 4
PM Narendra Modi with Nordic leaders from Sweden, Denmark,
Iceland, Norway & Finland at the First India‑Nordic Summit. (Photo: PIB)
as US, allies
Vandana Sharma
honored for breaking India finish 3rd with hit Syrian sites
glass ceiling
New York: Vandana Sharma, Air
Indiaʼs Regional Manager
66 medals at CWG While punishing Assad regime for gassing
its own people, President Trump ordered a
(Americas) was honored Tuesday
restrained, precision attack, and Russia
as an Extraordinary Woman of too kept out of the military conflict.
Power, Vision and Courage by a
prominent media company. She Washington/Damascus/Moscow/L violations of international law".
was among eight women bestowed ondon: The US, Britain and France US President Donald Trump via a
launched coordinated strikes tweet hailed the overnight military
Continued on page 4
against Syria's research, storage strike as "perfectly executed",
and military targets to "punish" adding: "Mission Accomplished".
the Bashar al‑Assad regime for an The strikes targeted three facili‑
apparent chemical attack in ties associated with Syria's chemi‑
Douma that killed over 70 people. cal weapons arsenal, including a
The military action was scientific research facility around
Mary Kom won a boxing gold Saina Nehwal won a gold in denounced by Damascus and its Damascus, a chemical weapons
in 48kg category at CWG. women's badminton singles final. ally Moscow as a "failure" and "an storage facility around Homs
Gold Coast (Australia): India fin‑ only behind Australia (198 medals) act of aggression". alleged to be used for sarin gas
ished the 2018 Commonwealth and England (166 medals). Over Western allies warned Syria that and a nearby command post, said
Games here with 26 gold, 20 silver the entire stretch of the event, they could launch further attacks the Pentagon. Russian President
and 20 bronze medals. This year's Indian athletes also shattered 11 if chemical weapons were used Vladimir Putin slammed the US
total of 66 medals is the third CWG records. again. The strikes were intended and its allies, saying that
Air Indiaʼs Regional Manager (Americas)
highest haul for India in the histo‑ to show Western resolve in the Washington was "increasingly
received the award and citation from Continued on page 4
Michael Nussbaum, Publisher of Queens ry of the CWG. face of what the leaders of the exacerbating the humanitarian
Tribune and Southwest Queens Press. In the medal table, India was DETAILED CWG STORIES ON PAGE 22. three nations called "persistent Continued on page 4

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info April 21-27, 2018

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY April 21-27, 2018 3

Congressional team visits India, meets Modi

New Delhi: A 7‑member bipartisan
Congressional delegation visited India
from April 4 to 7 at the invitation of the
Ministry of External Affairs. The delega‑
tion comprised Congressmen Pete Olson,
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Drew Ferguson and
Tom Suozzi (from Long Island) and
Congresswomen Terry Sewell, Dina Titus,
and Brenda Lawrence.
In Delhi, the delegation met Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of
Commerce & Industry Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Minister of Communications &
Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar
Prasad, Minister of State for External
Affairs Shri M.J. Akbar and held discus‑
sions with several industry bodies.
They also attended the 2nd India‑US
Forum that has brought together policy‑
makers and policy‑influencers from India
and US for discussions on all aspects of the
India‑US strategic partnership and to iden‑
tify ways to strengthen it further.
Congresswomen Titus and Sewell also
travelled to Hyderabad where they visited
The Congressional delegation called on Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi.
local industries and held a meeting with
the Telangana State Minister for IT,
Industries & Commerce Shri K.T. Rama
Rao. In a statement released after the
meeting with PM Modi, Krishnamoorthi
described India as the “linchpin of securi‑
ty” in the Indo‑Pacific region, which the
Trump administration has made one of its
foreign policy priorities. He asserted that
President Trump has continued with the
India policy of his predecessors because
the support in Washington for the Indo‑US
relationship transcends political parties. At
a time when several issues beset the U.S.‑
India relationship, including the H‑1B visa
and trade matters, Krishnamoorthi (D‑
Illinois), promised to work with U.S. law‑
makers to ensure the bilateral relationship
is strengthened.
Tom Suozzi visited BAPS Akshardham
temple in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
In a message to Bollywood Insider after his
India trip, he said, “I am more convinced
than ever that the US‑India relationship is
not only important to each other but also
to the world. Chinaʼs aggression must be
countered with our countriesʼ and our
alliesʼ commitment to democracy, market
economics and each other. Jai Hind.”

India to retain
fastest growing
economy spot: IMF
By Arul Louis
United Nations: The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) says that India will retain its top spot as the
world's fastest growing economy, helped by struc‑
tural reforms and the fading of the effects of
demonetization and the new goods and services
tax system. The World Economic Outlook report
released on Tuesday, said that India's growth pro‑
jections of 7.4 percent for this year and 7.8 per‑
cent for next year remained unchanged from the
earlier estimates. The report kept the global
growth rate projections at 3.9 percent for this
year and the next that was made in January.
"A projected increase in India's growth provide
some offset to China's gradual slowdown and
emerging Europe's return to its lower‑trend
growth rate," the report said.
China's growth rate is projected to be 6.6 per‑
cent this year and slide to 6.4 percent next year.
Meanwhile, IMF Research Director Maurice
Obstfeld cautioned that a trade war could put
global growth at risk. He told reporters in
Washington that a fight over trade will not help
anyone and there will be no winners, even if some
may see some short‑term benefits.
The US sparked off a trade war, primarily aimed
at China, by raising some tariffs and Beijing retali‑
ated with its own set of counter tariffs. For India,
the report cautioned that corporate debts and
banking sector credit quality are a drag on
investments.
Pompeo's tweet on slur about
Goyle raised at Senate hearing
New York: A tweet by Secretary that deals with the US
of State‑designate Mike Constitution, Christianity and
Pompeo linking to a blog that the United States of America!!!"
made racist taunts against his He added, "Like his comrade
Indian‑American opponent in a (then‑President Barack) Obama,
2010 Congressional election he wouldn't give an answer,
has come back to haunt him in only that he was not a
his Senate confirmation hear‑ Christian. This guy could be a
ings. Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist,
At the hearings last Thursday etc., who knows, only God, the
in Washington, Democrat Mike Pompeo, Trumpʼs pick for US Secretary of Shadow and ... Goyle knows!
Senator Bob Menendez raised State, had run against Raj Goyle, a Kansas State One thing's for sure ... Goyle is
the tweet and other controver‑ Representative, in the 2010 race for Congress. not a Christian!"
sial statements from Pompeo's Although his father was a
nent, an American (of) South of the Pompeo of the past, and
past and contrasted them with Muslim, Obama said he was a
Asian heritage a turban‑topper, so I'm trying to figure out
his more moderate stance Christian but some Republicans
stating that you thought it was, which one is the one that will
before the Senate Foreign claimed he was not and contin‑
quote, 'a good read,' an article act if he gets confirmed as
Relations Committee and won‑ ually raised it.
that you tweeted that said your Secretary of State, because
dered which version of him was Pompeo later apologized to
opponent, quote, could be a some of the things in the past I
the real one. Goyle and said that his cam‑
'Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, who could never support,"
Pompeo, the CIA Director paign had "inadvertently posted
knows'." Menendez said.
nominated by President Trump a link to a tremendously offen‑
Pompeo made the tweet and The post that Pompeo sent
to succeed Rex Tillerson as sive blog post". His tweet and
a similar Facebook post when links to was written by an ex‑
Secretary of State, needs Senate Facebook post were deleted by
he ran against Raj Goyle, a Marine, Bob Pinkstaff, who
confirmation for the job and him. Issues relating to India
Kansas State Representative in tried to communalize the elec‑
faced about four and a half and the rest of South Asia ‑‑
the 2010 race for Congress. tion by pointing out that Goyle
hours of questioning by the except for Afghanistan ‑‑ did
Goyle, who was born in the US was not a Christian.
panel. not figure at all during the
to immigrant doctors from He blogged that Goyle was
Menendez recalled that he hearings on Thursday, which
India, lost the election. "just another 'turban topper'
had tweeted a blog link "to your were focused mainly on China,
"The Pompeo I hear today, (that) we don't need in
supporters calling your oppo‑ Russia and Iran.
much more different than some Congress or any political office
 4 April 21-27, 2018 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

No escalation as US, from Denmark, Iceland, tered more.

Tax filers get till April 18 allies hit Syrian sites

Continued from page 1
catastrophe in Syria". But
Norway and Finland.
For India, Nordic countries
are a potential source for
Sweden is home to over
20,000 people of Indian ori‑
gin, including around 2,000

after IRS website glitch Kremlin did not try to escalate

New York: Last‑minute taxpayers unable
to file their returns online because of an
IRS computer problem got some
welcome news Tuesday: A one
day extension. Treasury
Secretary Steven Mnuchin gave
that assurance as April 17 mid‑
night federal tax filing deadline
approached.
As of 5:05 p.m. ET, the IRS'
site appeared to be working
again after being down much of Tuesday.
The glitch af fected the tax agency's
Direct Pay system, which lets people pay
an estimate of taxes directly from their
bank account free of charge.
Earlier in the day, those trying to pay
through this method were
greeted with an error message
that said: "This service is tem‑
porarily unavailable. We are
working to resolve the issue.
Please come back later and try
again, or you can visit the Make
a Payment page for alternative
payment methods. We apolo‑
gize for any inconvenience."
The IRS website also noted that "your tax
payment is due although IRS Direct Pay
may not be.
the situation.
Iran's Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called
the attack a "crime" but gave
no indication of any planned
Iranian response. Iran and its
main proxy force in the
region, Lebanon's Hezbollah,
are both key allies of Syria.
After hitting Syria, White
House is mulling imposing
fresh sanctions on Assadʼs
backer, Russia. But for now,
President Trump put a hold
on that even after a statement
by US envoy to UN, Nikki
Haley. Meanwhile, on Tuesday,
International investigators
clean technology, environmen‑
tal solutions, port moderniza‑
tion, cold chain, skill develop‑
ment, innovation among other
areas. According to figures
provided by the Indian
External Affairs Ministry,
India's trade with the Nordic
countries totaled around $5.3
billion in 2016‑17, with cumu‑
lative foreign direct invest‑
ment in India at $2.5 billion.
Earlier on Tuesday, Modi
held a bilateral summit with
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan
Lofven following which India
and Sweden signed a Joint
Action Plan and an Innovation
Partnership for a Sustainable
students.
This is the first prime minis‑
terial visit from India to
Sweden in 30 years after Rajiv
Gandhi went there in 1988.
India finish 3rd with
66 medals at CWG
Continued from page 1
India's best performance till
date came at home during the
2010 Delhi Games, which pro‑
duced a tally of 101 medals ‑‑
38 gold, 27 silver and 36
bronze.
Congratulating India's con‑
tingent at the Games in Gold
Coast, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said that the

Starbucks to shut stores on entered the Syrian town hit by

the alleged chemical attack,
Future.
While addressing the Indian
competitors will motivate
more youngsters to pursue

May 29 for bias training
Washington: Starbucks announced on
Tuesday that it will close all its company‑
owned stores in the US for the afternoon
on May 29 to train employees how to
prevent racial discrimination in their
stores
In the wake of outrage over the arrest
of two African‑American men at one of
its cof fee shops in Philadelphia last
week, more than 8,000 stores will be
closed and training will be provided to
nearly 175,000 employees and incorpo‑
rated into company training going for‑
ward, according to Starbucks.
The curriculum will be designed "to
address implicit bias, promote conscious
inclusion, prevent discrimination and
ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store
feels safe and welcome," Xinhua quoted
Starbucks as saying in a statement.
The move came after the Seattle‑based
chain was under fire for a decision by
staff at one of its Philadelphia stores to
call the police on two African‑American
men when they did not buy anything and
asked to use the restrooms. The two men
were told they could not use the rest‑
rooms unless they are paying customers.
They explained that they were waiting
for a friend, who later arrived.
Police arrested them and the footage of
which has been viewed millions of times
and drawn widespread condemnation.
The company's CEO Kevin Johnson has
apologized for the incident and the cof‑
fee giant confirmed that the Philadelphia
employee who called the police is no
longer with the company. "While this is
not limited to Starbucks, we're commit‑
ted to being a part of the solution,"
Johnson said. "Closing our stores for
racial bias training is just one step in a
journey that requires dedication from
every level of our company and partner‑
ships in our local communities."
after days of delay and warn‑
ings by Western powers that
crucial evidence had likely
been removed.
India, Nordic nations
agree to deepen
cooperation
Continued from page 1
External Affairs Ministry said
in a statement. "They
acknowledged that innovation
and digital transformation
drive growth in an intercon‑
nected world, which underpin
a growing engagement
between India and the Nordic
countries," it stated.
"The Summit emphasized
India's strong commitment to
innovation and digital initia‑
tives as key to prosperity and
sustainable development, with
national flagship programs
such as Make in India, Start‑
up India, Digital India and
Clean India."
Ahead of the Summit, Modi
held separate bilateral meet‑
ings with his counterparts
diaspora at the Stockholm
University, PM Modi invoked
the achievements of pugilist
M.C. Mary Kom and shuttler
Saina Nehwal at the
Commonwealth Games in
Australia earlier this month.
Extolling the thought of India,
Modi, addressing a gathering
of around 2,000 people, said:
"The achievements of Mary
Kom and Saina Nehwal make
our hearts swell with pride."
While Mary Kom won the
gold in the 46‑48 kg category
in women's boxing at the Gold
Coast games, Nehwal walked
away with two golds in bad‑
minton.
In a special gesture, Modi
made the gathering give a
standing ovation to Swedish
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven
who was also present on the
occasion.
On his part, Lofven said that
more than the Prime
Ministers of the two countries
getting along well, it was the
people‑to‑people ties that mat‑
sports. An elated Indian
Olympic Association (IOA)
Chief Narinder Dhruv Batra
said the nation is on the right
path to become a sporting
powerhouse.
Vandana Sharma
honored for breaking
glass ceiling
Continued from page 1
the Glass Ceiling Awards by
Queens Tribune and
Southwest Queens Press.
Other honorees included
Kathleen Hochul, Lieutenent
Governor of New York (who
was also the Keynote Speaker)
and Tonya Boyd, Deputy Chief
of New York City Fire
Department). The gala event
was held at Douglaston
Manor. Vandana Sharma came
to this country as Air Indiaʼs
Regional Manager (Americas)
in 2015 and has since helped
it grow from 21 flights per
week out of three gateways in
the US to 36 flights a week
out of five gateways.

New Delhi Bureau News Service: HT Media Ltd.

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY April 21-27, 2018 5

City kicks off 15th annual

immigrant heritage week
New York: Mayor Bill de Blasio opportunity for New York City
Ultimate City of
and Acting Commissioner Bitta parents and children alike to
Immigrants
Mostofi kicked‑off Immigrant celebrates diverse immerse ourselves in the many
Heritage Week 2018, the fifteenth heritage with over immigrant communities that
annual celebration of New York 50 events across make our city so unique,” said
Cityʼs immigrant communities and five boroughs Deputy Mayor J. Phillip
our shared immigrant heritage. Thompson. “With family‑friendly
From April 16 to April 22, the City cultural events available across
and community partners across the five boroughs this week, NYC
the five boroughs will host more families can learn more about
than 50 events and programs our history and recharge as we
honoring our cityʼs rich immigrant recommit ourselves to opening
heritage and celebrating the fact up opportunity for all New
that New York City is home to Yorkers.”
more immigrant residents today “People from over 150 coun‑
than in over a century. tries call New York home, nearly
Every year, Immigrant Heritage week 40 percent of the City population,” said
launches in mid‑April, marking the day in Department of Social Services
1907 when more immigrants entered Commissioner Steven Banks.
through Ellis Island than any other date in “New York City has and will always be a
the cityʼs history. This yearʼs theme, “A City place that celebrates, supports, and protects
of Immigrants: United in Action,” recognizes its diverse immigrant communities and a
New Yorkersʼ common values and immi‑ place where immigrants and their families
grant history keep the city together working can thrive and flourish,” said Carmelyn P.
towards further progress no matter what Malalis, Commissioner and Chair of the NYC
challenges we face. “New York City is a shin‑ Commission on Human Rights. “Here, every‑
ing beacon by the sea, a global city that wel‑ one has the right to live and work free from
comes in the world with open arms,” said discrimination regardless of where you
Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The Statue of Liberty came from, what language you speak, or
is synonymous with NYC, but during your immigration status. The NYC
Immigrant Heritage Week, we remember Commission on Human Rights fights for the
what Ellis Island represents for my forefa‑ right of all New Yorkers and encourages
thers and foremothers and how crucial anyone who has been the victim of discrimi‑
immigrants are to making our city great. On nation or harassment to report it by calling
our 15th annual celebration, we remember 718‑722‑3131. We will never ask your
the journey our families and communities immigration status and reports can be filed
have taken and welcome newcomers to this anonymously.” A full list of Immigrant
amazing city.” Heritage Week programs and events is
“Immigrant Heritage Week is a great available at nyc.gov/IHW2018.

Congresswoman (D‑NY) Carolyn

Maloney exclaims about her new
look to community activist Jagdish
Sewhani at the Turban Day celebra‑
tion in Times Square last week,
where a record was set for most
turbans tied in a day.

Consulate starts Yoga Day curtain raiser events

New York: To mark the International Day of
Yoga, Consulate General of India will be host‑
ing curtain raiser events that touches on the
importance of Yoga and meditation in every‑
day life. The series opened with a Book Talk
on Holistic Measures and Cognitive Disorders
from “Why Buddha Never Had Alzheimer's”
by Dr. Shuvendu Sen (speaking) and Dr. Gary
Kaplan (center) at the Consulate on April
12th. Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty
gave the welcome remarks at the event. Dr.
Sen spoke on the importance of regimens
such as meditation and yoga in the cure and
care in Alzeimerʼs dimentia. Using case histo‑
ries from his patients and studies from some
of America's top level institutions he also
examined the benefits of music therapy, vir‑
tual reality, touch therapy and holistic medi‑
cine. Dr. Kalpan also described how medita‑
tion may be able to help heal the brains of
people who suffer with depression, anxiety
disorders and chronic pain.
6 April 21-27 2018
Over 70 films, documentaries on diverse
themes to be showcased at NYIFF
O
ver 70 films and documentaries
focusing on diverse themes of
women's issues, gay rights, ter‑
rorism and youth will be showcased at
the New York Indian Film Festival (NY‑
IFF) next month, connecting artists and
filmmakers from the Indian subconti‑
nent to American audiences.
The 18th annual NYIFF, which will run
from May 7 to 12, will showcase 78
films, documentaries and shorts in 11
languages ‑ English, Hindi, Marathi,
Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada,
Tulu, Konkani, Bengali and Assamese.
The films will "focus on the themes of
women's issues, lesbians, gays, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT), terrorism and
children and teenagers grappling with
realities of life," said Aroon Shivdasani,
Executive and Artistic Director of the
not‑for‑profit arts organisation Indo‑
American Arts Council, which organizes
the film festival.
Aseem Chhabra, NYIFF Director and
author of veteran actor Shashi Kapoor's
biography "Shashi Kapoor: The House‑
Man indicted in hit‑and‑run
death of Taranjit Parmar
New York: An American man has
been indicted for killing an 18‑
year‑old Indian‑origin student in
November last year when he
dragged her with his truck and
ran over her while fleeing the
scene of a minor crash.
Daniel Coppolo of Deer Park,
New York has been arraigned on
grand jury indictment charges
for the death of Taranjit Parmar Daniel Coppolo allegedly drove through the
parking lot, dragging Taranjit Parmar and ulti‑
in a parking lot in Levittown in
Nassau County's Hempstead mately ran her over before fleeing the scene by
town, the County's District At‑ driving the wrong way on the highway.
(Image courtesy: nydailynews, dailymail.co.uk)
torney Madeline Singas said in a
statement.
Coppolo was arraigned before Acting
Supreme Court Justice Terence Murphy
on charges including of manslaughter,
assault, tampering with physical evi‑
dence and reckless driving.
His bail was continued at $1 million
bond or $ 600,000 cash and he is due
back in court on May 17. If convicted, he dent when her life was taken from her
faces up to a maximum of 26 years in
prison.
Attorney Singas said that on the
evening of November 9 last year, Par‑
mar's car was involved in a minor colli‑
sion with Coppolo's pick‑up truck in
Levittown.
After the incident, the two pulled both
vehicles into the parking lot near a gas
station.
Parmar exited her vehicle and called
her mother. While on the phone with her rested for another matter several days
mother, Parmar yelled for Coppolo to
stop and grabbed his pick‑up truck as he
started to move.
Coppolo allegedly drove through the
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
holder, the Star", said the festival gives
an opportunity to audiences in New York
to experience cinematic excellence ema‑
nating from the subcontinent.
The festival will open with the US pre‑
miere of Ravi Jadhav's Marathi language
film "Nude" and close with the New York
premiere of director Hansal Mehta's Ra‑
jkummar Rao‑starrer biopic on Islamic
fundamentalist Omar Saeed Sheikh,
"Omerta." Other highlights of this year's
festival include a tribute to Kapoor and
actor Sridevi, who passed away in Febru‑
ary, and a retrospective of the films by
producer Ismail Merchant and director
James Ivory. Panel discussions on the
film and television market in India and
shooting films in New York state have
also been planned.
Also premiering at the festival is
"Breaking the Bee", a documentary
which focuses on the rise and domi‑
nance of Indian‑American children in
spelling bees.
The festival will also showcase Pak‑
istani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi films.
parking lot, dragging the victim and ulti‑
mately ran her over before fleeing the
scene by driving the wrong way on the
highway.
Parmar was transported to the hospi‑
tal in cardiac arrest and was pronounced
dead that night.
Parmar was a beautiful, successful stu‑
after a minor fender bender, Singas said.
"It is unthinkable that in addition to al‑
legedly driving away with the young
woman in the open window and then
running her over, the driver fled the
scene and left Taranjit to die in the park‑
ing lot.
After an investigation, members of the
Nassau County Police Department locat‑
ed Coppolo's truck in a parking lot in
Westbury, where Coppolo had been ar‑
after the November 9 incident.
Coppolo, a former FDNY employee,
was arrested on December 23 for Par‑
mar's death. (PTI)
To mark Rajasthan Day (which falls on March 30), New York State Assemblyman
David Weprin honored three prominent community leaders of Rajasthani her‑
itage: (from left) Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, Ashok Sancheti,
community leader and philanthropist, and Manish Dhadda, Vice Chairman Jaipur
Foot USA. New York State proclamations were presented to them even as former
Deputy Comptroller of Nassau County Dilip Chauhan joined in.
Sothebyʼs to launch auctions in India
L
eading international auction house
Sothebyʼs announced plans to launch
sales in India with ʻBoundless: Mum‑
baiʼ scheduled for December 2018. The sale
will be held at the landmark venue, The Taj
Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.
Jan Prasens, Sothebyʼs Managing Director
for Europe, Middle East, Russia and India:
“In recent years, we have witnessed both the
ever‑growing presence of Indian collectors
in Sothebyʼs global auctions, and the devel‑
opment of an increasingly vibrant domestic
Indian art market. Given these promising
signs, and the projected economic growth
for India in the future, it is the right time for
Sothebyʼs to further expand the services we
offer our clients in the region, and to bring
our auctions directly to the doorstep of the
many collectors who live there.”
Edward Gibbs, Sothebyʼs Chairman of In‑
dia and the Middle East said, “Indian collec‑
UTK Indian American students
host annual Holi show
T
he Indian American Association
(IAA) at the University of Tennessee‑
Knoxville brought Holi to campus
through an annual dance competition. On
April 14, Saturday night in Cox Auditorium,
IAA hosted the annual Raang Se Naachle
Holi Show, a collegiate dance competition
to celebrate Holi a spring festival that
shows love and unity through colors and
community. The show opened with fresh‑
men in IAA walking up to the stage with
candles and performing a short dance, wel‑
coming the audience to the show. Then, the
executive board of IAA gave an additional
welcome, thanked those who contributed
to the show and presented a video and skit
representative of the theme for the night:
The hit TV show “Friends.”
Most of the dance performances had a
blend of traditional and contemporary Indi‑
an and Western music and dance move‑
ments. ATL Insaafi, a nationally competi‑
tive co‑ed Bollywood fusion dance team
from Atlanta, featured songs like Ariana
Grandeʼs “Focus” and contemporary Indian
music in their performance. UT groups
VOLtage and Mayuri also featured blends
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
tors have long been important participants
in Sothebyʼs auctions. Recently, however, we
have seen exponential growth in their activi‑
ty at Sothebyʼs, not only in our sales of
South Asian art, but also in our wider inter‑
national auctions. This strong uptick is part
of a global pattern of increased liquidity
within the market but it is also reflective of
the flourishing arts scene on the ground in
India itself. These new auctions will provide
collectors in India with fresh and exciting
opportunities, not currently offered by any
other auction house.” ʻBoundless: Mumbaiʼ
will include not only important works by
South Asiaʼs greatest artists, but also art‑
works by western artists inspired and influ‑
enced by the art, culture, geography and
people of South Asia.
One of Tyeb Mehtaʼs most important
works, Durga Mahisasura Mardini has been
confirmed to lead the sale.
of old and new in their performances with
fusions of South Asian and Western dance
and music, including J Balvin and Willy
Williamʼs “Mi Gente.”
While some teams showed more of the
contemporary side, others like Hurricane
Bangra, Classic City Bhangra and Emory
Karma Bhangra focused more on tradition‑
al Indian dances, performed in traditional
formal attire and utilizing saps ̶ which
make a clapping sound ̶ and colored
wooden koondas, both of which are props
specific to the Bhangra style of dancing.
Some teams added a storyline to their
performances. UAB Rangeelaʼs perform‑
ance depicted the relationship between a
young girl and her grandmother as a mes‑
sage to youth to preserve relationships
with the older generations. Champa and
Chameli, an all‑female group from the Uni‑
versity of Georgia (UGA), gave their dance a
Kim Possible theme, while USC Moksha
gave a Freaky Friday performance.
Georgia Saazish, an all‑boy group from
UGA, took first place in the competition for
their performance, which had a haunted
house theme. (Source: utdailybeacon.com)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY April 21-27, 2018 7

New plaque honors Ghadar Why Democrats are rallying behind Hiral
Party movement in Oregon Tipirneni for Arizona Congress seat
Washington, DC: A new plaque
commemorating the Ghadar
movement has been unveiled in
the northwestern American city
of Astoria, rekindling the contri‑
bution of the members of the
Ghadar Party in India's freedom
movement. The original plaque,
installed at a park in Astoria five
years ago commemorating the
100 years of foundation of the
Ghadar Party in this small coastal
city, was stolen by miscreants last
October.
Thereafter the small local
Indian American community
worked with the city to put a new
plaque. The re‑dedication cere‑
mony was held on April 6 in the
presence of the city mayor, local
officials and members of the
Indian American community.
"The sign the one that was
stolen in October and, now, its
replacement memorialized a his‑
tory that had been long forgotten
in Astoria and beyond," the local
Daily Astoria said in its report of
the event.
"This is an important part of
our freedom struggle, which
many do not know about,"
Bahadur Singh, head of the
newly‑founded Ghadar Memorial
Foundation of Astoria told PTI
from Oregon. A prominent com‑
munity leader and businessman,
Singh is president of the Sikh
Gurudwara in Salem, the largest
in Oregon.
It all started five years ago
when a local historian Johanna
Ogden wrote about the meetings
of the Ghadar members mostly
Sikh workers who came from
India ‑‑ at the city's Finnish
Socialist Hall in 1913 in Astoria.
"This led to the installation of
the first bronze sign. Located at
the Maritime Memorial Park
under the Astoria Bridge, it
proved to be an important site for
tourists from India and Indian
communities across the United
States," the Daily Astoria said.
The original sign was stolen last
October. "This was heartbreaking
for us," Singh said. "Immediately
we approached the city for an
investigation and started the
campaign to have a new sign," he
added. In his remarks on the
occasion, former Astoria mayor
Willis Van Dusen said that the
theft provided an opportunity for
people to gather and bring the
history to the forefront once
again. Local Indian American
businesses donated funds for
this. "Many of us are aware of the
Ghadar Movement that was start‑
ed by Indians living in North
America and Vancouver, but what
most of us do not know is that
Oregon was home to these
Ghadrites," Singh said. (PTI)
Washington, DC: Sensing victory,
the Democratic Party has rallied
behind Indian American candi‑
date Hiral Tipirneni in Arizona
ahead of a special Congressional
election later this month. “Hiralʼs
running in a district that
Democrats havenʼt contested
since 2012. And winning this
race would significantly boost our
chances of flipping the House in
November,” the Democratic Party
said, throwing its weight behind
the Indian American, who is giv‑
ing a tough fight to her
Republican opponent Debbie
Lesko for the 8th Congressional
District of Arizona. Tipirneni and
Lesko are pitted in a tough fight
in the April 24 special election,
necessitated after the resignation
of Republican Trent Franks fol‑
lowing reports of sexual miscon‑
duct. Interestingly the seat was
represented for three terms by
Democrat Gabrielle Gifford, who
resigned in 2012, after surviving
an assassination attempt.
However there were no
Democratic candidates running in
the last three elections.
Franks had represented the seat
since 2013. He resigned on
December 8, thus necessitating a
special election. “Hiralʼs strong
campaign is clearly making
Republicans nervous. House
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Hiral Tipirneni is giving tough
fight to her Republican
opponent Debbie Lesko
(Image courtesy: foxnews.com)
has already hosted a fundraiser
for her opponent, and Paul Ryan
is headlining another,” the party
said. The opposing Republican
Party has poured in $322,419
into Leskoʼs political campaign.
This special election has suddenly
caught national attention and is
considered a litmus test for the
ruling Republicans.
Tipirneniʼs parents came to the
US from India when she was three
years old. A bout of typhoid fever
as a child inspired her to become
a doctor specialising in emer‑
gency medicine, and sheʼs a pow‑
erful advocate for affordable
health care coverage for all, her
party said. Congresswoman
Pramila Jayapal, who is the first
ever Indian American women to
be elected to the US House of
Representatives, also came out in
support of Tipirneni. “Pramila is
supporting our incredible
Democratic nominee, Dr Hiral
Tipirneni, because we need to
elect more women to Congress
across the country and take back
the house,” Jayapalʼs team said in
a fund raising email.
“Dr Tipirneni is an emergency
room physician and cancer
research advocate. Sheʼs hard‑
working and compassionate with
a common‑sense approach to the
issues we care about,” it said. If
she wins, it would mean the first
woman elected to the House this
year, the second Indian American
woman ever elected to Congress,
another Republican district won
by a Democrat and a massive
defeat for President Donald
Trumpʼs agenda, it said. The
Democratic Party also sent a last
minute fundraising email for
Tipirneni. (PTI)

Trump appoints Vijayalakshmi Appareddy Indian‑American dance theater in

to Intellectual Disabilities Committee
Washington, DC: President Donald Trump
March 30 announced his intention to
appoint a number of individ‑
uals to various administra‑
tion posts, including Dr.
Vijayalakshmi Appareddy to
the president's Committee
for People with Intellectual
Disabilities.
Appareddy, a psychiatrist
from Chattanooga, Tenn., will
serve as a member of the
committee for the remainder
of the two‑year term which
Vijayalakshmi Appareddy
expires May 11, 2019. (Image courtesy: theunn.com) the American Board of
The Indian American
physician has been in practice for more than
two decades. She received her medical
degree from Osmania Medical College NTR
UHS.
Additionally, she did a fel‑
lowship of child and adoles‑
cent psychiatry at Mount
Sinai School of Medicine and
completed her residency in
psychiatry at Mount Sinai.
She is certified in addiction
medicine and child and ado‑
lescent psychiatry from the
American Board of
Psychiatry and Neurology, a
psychiatry certification from
Preventative Medicine.
Appareddy is licensed to practice in
Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
Minnesota gets $100,000 grant
Washington, DC: The Ananya Dance
Theater, a Minneapolis‑based organization
secured a $100,000 grant this March from
the McKnight Foundation of Minnesota.
The dance group, which was founded in
2004 by artistic director, choreographer
and dancer Ananya Chatterjea, describes
itself as a “professional, Contemporary
Indian American Dance company com‑
prised primarily of women artists of color.”
Those involved consider themselves “cul‑
tural activists” using dance to engage audi‑
ences and move toward justice.
The $100,000 grant which is given “for
general operating purpose” is the third on
Ananya Dance Theater has received from
McKnight. It also received $70,000 in 2017
and $40,000 in 2014, according to the
McKnight website. The McKnight
Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling
$25.3 million in its first‑quarter 2018
grant making. “We create original
Contemporary Indian American Dance the‑
ater at the intersection of artistic excel‑
lence and social justice,” the group says on
its website.
Describing itself as a “professional com‑
pany of primarily women artists of color,”
the Ananya Dance Theater says “We are
fierce optimists who believe that crating
with intention can make a difference in the
world.” Chatterjea is inspired by the politi‑
cally charged “group theatre” tradition of
Kolkata, where she grew up, and the intri‑
cate beauty and power of the classical
dance form Odissi, which was her primary
training, according to the dance companyʼs
website.
8 April 21-27, 2018
Coloradoʼs Serene Singh wins
Truman scholarship
S
erene Singh, a University of
Colorado junior majoring in politi‑
cal science and journalism and
minoring in leadership studies, has won
the prestigious Truman Scholarship, an
honor that brings with it up to $30,000 for
graduate study, priority admission at grad‑
uate institutions and intensive leadership
training for careers in public service.
Singh, in the long history of CU, is only
the University of Colorado's 11th recipient
of the scholarship and first since 2014.
The 59 new Truman Scholars were
selected from among 756 candidates nom‑
inated by 311 colleges and universities.
Recipients were chosen on the basis of
their academic and leadership accomplish‑
ments and their likelihood of becoming
public service leaders.
Singh, as the first South Asian winner of
both America's Junior Miss 2017 as well
as Miss Colorado Teen 2016, started a
nonprofit called The Serenity Project to
Salman Khan to perform in 5 US
cities in June‑July
Indian engineer pleads guilty of
raising money for top Al Qaida leader
A
38‑year‑old Indian engineer in the
state of Ohio, accused of funding a
top al‑Qaida leader, has pleaded
guilty to concealment of financing of ter‑
rorism. Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad, sec‑
ond of the two brothers, is accused of
sending money to Anwar al‑Awlaki in
Yemen. Al‑Awlaki was later designated a
terrorist and killed by a US drone in
2011. Mohammad is to receive an
agreed‑upon prison sentence of 60
months, although he would receive credit
for the 30 months he already has spent in
the Lucas County jail awaiting trial, The
Blade newspaper reported.
District Judge Jeffrey Helmick told him
that due to his plea and conviction, he
would be deported to India.
"You ultimately will be removed from
this country and told you are not wel‑
come to come back," the judge said.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Serene Singh
offer an experience aimed at growing con‑
fidence and self‑esteem for at‑risk and
marginalized communities of women.
Singh is a 3‑time State Speech and
Debate Champion, the first and only one to
hold this record in the state of Colorado.
New York: Bollywood superstar Salman
Khanʼs brother, Sohail Khan, told the
press on April 14 that Da‑Bangg: The
Tour – Reloaded concert will bring
Salman Khan and other stars including
Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez,
Sonakshi Sinha and Prabhu Deva to the
US and Canada this summer. The group
will perform in seven cities:
June 22: Atlanta, Georgia
June 23: Chicago, Illinois
June 29: Dallas, Texas
June 30: San Jose, California
July 1: Vancouver, Canada
July 7: Newark, New Jersey
July 8: Toronto, Canada
Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad is accused of
sending money to Anwar al‑Awlaki in
Yemen. Al‑Awlaki was later designated a
terrorist and killed by a US drone.
Mohammad had studied at the
University of Illinois and lived in Toledo
since 2006. (PTI)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Shiva Durai, Senate candidate,
emerges as big fund‑raiser
Washington: Indian American
Shiva Ayyadurai, running the US
Senate election from
Massachusetts, has raised a record
amount of $ 4.6 million. The 54‑
year‑old is running as an inde‑
pendent against the powerful
incumbent Elizabeth Warren, a
Democrat.
Trying to run an unconventional
campaign on the slogan of "Only A
Real Indian Can Defeat The Fake
Indian", Ayyadurai said that his
campaign ended March 2018 with
a total of $4.6 million in contribu‑
tions.
The Warren campaign has not
released its latest figures. But at
the start of the year, she had more
than 14 million in her campaign
account. Shiva Ayyadurai, 'inventor of email', is running
as Independent for Senate seat from
Ayyadurai, the Mumbai‑born sci‑
Massachusetts.
entist and entrepreneur, is known
for his controversial claim of being letter from the City of Cambridge stat‑
the "inventor of email", based on the ing that fines of $300 per day would be
electronic mail software called "EMAIL
which he wrote as a high school stu‑
levied along with legal action if the
campaign refused to take down the sig‑
dent in the late 1970s.
The "Shiva 4 Senate" campaign said
nage "Only A Real Indian Can Defeat
The Fake Indian."
its fund‑raising contributions, a formi‑ "Clearly, Elizabeth Warren and the
dable social media presence, combined Establishment fear the Shiva 4 Senate
with nearly 4,000 volunteers, reflect campaign," he said.
the enormous strength of this historic The Fake Indian reference is to
grassroots campaign. Warrenʼs contested claim that she has
On April 5, the campaign received a Red Indian blood..
Whatʼs Happy Clothing founder
dies in Arizona plane crash
A
n Indian‑American
entrepreneur was
among six people
killed when a small plane
crashed on a golf course in a
suburb of Phoenix in Arizona
shortly after taking off from
a nearby airport, the authori‑
ties said.
They identified him as
Anand Patel, 26, the founder
of What's Happy Clothing.
The plane, a Piper PA‑24
Comanche, which was head‑
ed to Las Vegas crashed onto
a Scottsdale golf course,
some 15 minutes after take‑
Anand Patel, 26
off from the city airport.
Nobody on the ground was clothing line and worked as an event
hurt, said Kevin Watts, a Scottsdale promoter, flying coast to coast with
Police Department spokesman. friends and clients on trips that often
On hitting the ground, the single‑ included stops in Scottsdale, local
engined plane burst into flames, killing Republic newspaper reported.
all the six passengers on board, police Anand Patel was "an entrepreneur
said. Their age ranged from 22 to 28 with lots of energy and lots of charis‑
years. ma," his brother told the daily.
Patel, popular among his friends by The plane crash is being investigated
the name of Happy, came to the US by the National Transportation Safety
along with his twin brother Akash Patel Board with help from the Federal
in 2009 for studies. He co‑founded the Aviation Administration.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Thottapilly family was on a road trip and feared drowned in a swollen California river
(Image courtesy: ndtv.com)
Rescue team recovers three
bodies of missing family
Washington,DC: An inter‑agency search and
rescue team has recovered two more bodies
of an Indian American family who were
feared drowned in a California river some 10
days ago. The bodies have been identified of
that of Sandeep Thottapilly, 41, and his
daughter Saachi, nine, who along with his
wife, Soumya, 38, and son Siddhant, 12, went
missing 10 days ago. They were driving from
Portland, Oregon to San Jose in Southern
California. The bodies of Sandeep and Saachi
were recovered inside the vehicle, a Honda
Pilot, which was recovered from about 4‑6
feet of river water, the police said.
Last week, the rescue team had found the
body of a woman, later identified to be that of
Soumya, and remains of the vehicle and the
belongings of the Thottapilly family.
“At approximately 11:30 AM a boating
team noticed a gasoline smell emitting from
the water approximately 1/2 mile north of
the reported crash site (downstream). The
searchers began to probe the water and locat‑
ed a vehicle submerged approximately 4‑6
feet beneath the water,” Californiaʼs
Mendocino County Sheriffʼs Office said in a
statement. Soon thereafter, search divers
entered the water and were able to feel what
Indian‑origin family killed
in S. Africa 'arson attack'
Johannesburg: An Indian‑origin family of
five, including three children, has been
killed in South Africa after their house
was allegedly petrol‑bombed by an
unknown arsonist, police said.
Aziz Manjra, 45, who had been living in
South Africa for the past 25 years, his
South African wife Gori Bibi and their
three children ‑‑ Muhammad Rizwan, 10,
Mairoonisa, 14, and Zubina, 18 ‑‑ were
found dead in their Pietermaritzburg
home on Thursday morning, the South
African media reported.
A source close to the investigation told
Independent Online that police, who
gained entry to the house by breaking
burglar guards on a window, had found a
bottle containing petrol in the house. The
family had moved into the double‑storey
COMMUNITY
they believed to be a person inside of the
vehicle. Visibility was extremely poor and
divers noted the vehicle was encased in a
large amount of sediment from the river cur‑
rent, a media release said.
Recovery efforts continued for several
hours and at approximately 6:30 PM the
vehicle was partially removed from the Eel
River by use of a tow truck. This provided
searchers the ability to conduct a visual
inspection of the inside of the vehicle.
“Searchers subsequently recovered the bod‑
ies of Sandeep Thottapilly and Saachi
Thottapilly from inside the vehicle,” the
Sheriff Office said adding that the autopsies
are expected to be performed this week as
part of the coronerʼs investigation into the
incident. Another search operation is being
conducted around the Eel River in an attempt
to locate Siddhant Thottapilly who still
remains missing.
According to the San Jose Police
Department, the Thottapilly family was sup‑
posed to have arrived to visit a friend in the
San Jose area on April 6 but did not make it
as scheduled. The family was last heard from
in the town of Klamath, Del Norte County, on
April 5.
DIASPORA
house on Larch Road, Willowton, less than
two weeks ago.
The older victims suffered severe burn
wounds while the children, who were
sleeping upstairs, died of smoke inhala‑
tion, police said. A neighbor, who did not
want to be named, said that Manjra and
his wife were working at a local whole‑
saler. (IANS)
UN celebrates Ambedkar's
legacy 'fighting inequality,
inspiring inclusion'
United Nations: Babasaheb Bhimrao
Ambedkar's legacy of fighting inequality
and inspiring inclusion around the world
was highlighted here at the celebration of
his 127th birth anniversary.
UN Development Programme Director
Achim Steiner said in his keynote address
that Ambedkar's legacy lives on in a
remarkable way in the difficult work
undertaken in the UN headquarters every‑
day.
"We are as much entrapped by the con‑
tradictions of the world in which we serve
and which we confront as Dr Ambedkar
was in his time," he said.
Ambedkar's work in "addressing the
challenge of exclusion from a normative,
moral and ethical point of view are as vital
to understanding his impact and role as his
later ability to actually share a legal and
constitutional discourse around this."
This was the third celebration of
Ambedkar Jayanti at the UN and the theme
was "Leaving No One Behind."
India's Permanent Representative Syed
Akbaruddin said that Ambedkar guides the
nation's foreign policy initiatives in provid‑
ing aid to least developed countries and
small island developing states to achieve
their 2030 UN development objectives.
The India‑UN Development Partnership
Fund with a commitment of $100 million
promotes the development effort of these
nations. A Commonwealth window is being
opened at the fund to allocate addition
resources to the developing countries of
the group, he added.
Diplomats spoke of the impact that
Ambedkar has had in countries as far away
as Kenya.
Kenya's UN Mission Minister Counsellor
James Ndirangu Waweru said that the
NRI book documents
200 years of sepoysʼ
legacy in South East Asia
Singapore: A new book highlighting the
sacrifices and struggles of Indian sepoys
and soldiers during the 18th to early 20th
centuries has been launched here.
Authored by Singaporean NRI N
Nedumaran, the book was launched by
Singapore's Ambassador Gopinath Pillai,
Chairman, Institute of South Asia Studies,
and Ambassador‑at‑Large Foreign Affairs
Ministry.
Speaking at the launch as the special
guest, the High Commissioner of India to
Singapore, Jawed Ashraf, described the
book "a reflection of a history of India and
South East Asia."
"It was a natural connection between
April 21-27, 2018 9
affirmative action elements of his coun‑
try's 2010 constitution were inspired by
Ambedkar.
He said that he had studied at the
Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law in
Nagpur and many lawyers in Kenya were
trained in India.
Bangladesh Permanent representative
Masud Bin Momen said, "Many of us learnt
a lot from the life and teachings of
Ambedkar and he is an icon in South Asia"
for "his lifelong fight against discrimina‑
tion and for more social inclusion."
Nepal's Deputy Permanent
Representative Nirmal Raj Kafle said that
during his country's 10‑year constitution‑
making process "the thoughts of Dr
Ambedkar have been truly inspirational."
The head of US operations of State Bank
of India, Ashwini Tewari, said that the
answer to promoting equality and inclu‑
sion lies in technology and organization.
He said an example of this was combina‑
tion of Aadhaar and use of mobile phone
technology that is making it possible to
reach the poor and deliver financial servic‑
es and assistance.
India's Consul General in New York,
Sandeep Chakravorty said that the govern‑
ment was acting as a disrupter in shaking
up the established ways for the better.
One of the disruptions with far reaching
consequences was Swachh Bharat with the
building of millions of toilets and another
was the direct transfer of funds to people
cutting out middlemen and corruption.
He said the government had introduced
a scholarship program for Dalits to study
abroad and his consulate was involved
with four students at elite universities who
had all their expense paid.
(IANS)
India and South East Asia," he said.
The role played by the sepoys of
Malaysia, Singapore and South‑East Asia
during the founding years of 18th to early
20th centuries came from research work
by Nedumaran, the former curator of The
Battle Box War Museum at Singapore's Fort
Canning Park.
The sepoys came from across India
beginning with Sir Stamford Raffles, who
established Singapore as a British Trading
Post in 1819.
The 335‑page book details the works of
sepoys and soldiers, with some territorial
wars and then the bigger war with the
Japanese in the 1940s. (PTI)
 10 April 21-27, 2018 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

NYT, New Yorker share Court allows review of

Pulitzer for public service
New York: The New
York Times and The
New Yorker were
jointly awarded the
Pulitzer Prize for
Public Service for
their revelations of
sexual harassment
and abuse that con‑
tinued unheeded and
unpunished in
Hollywood, politics,
the media and Silicon
Powerful men like Harvey Weinstein, Bill OʼReilly, and Senate candidate Ray Moore
Valley, the media
reported.
Pulitzer Prize Administrator
Dana Canedy announced the
2018 winners at the Columbia
University here on Monday.
The Pulitzer board cited revela‑
tions in The New York Times
about the Fox News host Bill
O'Reilly, whose history of settle‑
ments over harassment allega‑
tions had done little to affect his
career as the king of cable news.
After articles by The Times's
Emily Steel and Michael S.
Schmidt, O'Reilly was ousted by
Fox News last year.
The board also recognized
investigations into the film mogul
Harvey Weinstein, whose preda‑
tions of women ‑ and extensive
efforts to cover up his behavior ‑
were exposed in The New York
Times by Jodi Kantor and Megan
were exposed by journalism that won Pulitzers.
Twohey, and in The New Yorker
by contributing editor Ronan
Farrow. Farrow's first article, a
7,000‑word investigation pub‑
lished five days later after The
New York Times' report, disclosed
the first accusations of rape and
sexual assault against Weinstein.
"By revealing secret settlements, Roy S. Moore, the Republican
persuading victims to speak and
bringing powerful men to
account, we spurred a worldwide
reckoning about sexual abuse that that he had groped and harassed
only seems to be growing," Dean
Baquet, executive editor of The
New York Times, told hundreds of
journalists who had gathered in
the daily's Manhattan newsroom
on Monday for the Pulitzer
announcements.
The New Yorker's staff writer
Jelani Cobb was also honored as a
finalist for commentary for his
columns sounding the alarm on
devastating attacks on civil rights
during the first year of the Trump
Administration.
The Pulitzer for investigative
reporting was awarded to The
Washington Post for its expose of
Senate candidate in Alabama,
whose bid for higher office was
upended after the daily uncovered
multiple women, one as young as
14. Presidential politics figured in
the prizes for explanatory report‑
ing, given to The Arizona Republic
and the USA Today Network.
The Pulitzers, the most presti‑
gious honors in American journal‑
ism, have been awarded since
1917.
docs seized from Trump
attorneyʼs office
New York: A New
York court has reject‑
ed a motion to pre‑
vent prosecutors
from reviewing a
series of documents
seized by FBI from
the offices of
President Donald
Trump's personal
attorney.
The documents
were seized on April
Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen is in
9 from Michael
serious legal jeopardy. (Photo courtesy AP)
Cohen's office and
from his New York hotel room, as could harm the attorney‑client
part of investigations examining privilege.
some of his actions, Efe News Among the materials seized by
reported. At first, the documents the FBI agents are assorted docu‑
had been linked to the payment of ments on a number of legal mat‑
$130,000 by Cohen to pornstar ters and the hard drives from com‑
Stormy Daniels/Stephanie Clifford puters in Cohen's office.
in exchange for her keeping silent During the hearing, the identity
about the affair she allegedly had of a third person ̶ Fox News
with Trump in 2006. But Cohen's political commentator Sean
attorneys went to court to try and Hannity ̶ was also revealed. It is
prevent prosecutors from examin‑ not known what type of work
ing the documents, something that Cohen did for him. Hannity is con‑
was temporarily rejected by Judge sidered to be one of Trump's clos‑
Kimba Wood at a hearing on est advisers outside the adminis‑
Monday. tration.
Judge Wood, however, left the Cohen has been under investiga‑
door open to naming a special tion for months for possibly com‑
mediator and to reviewing the mitting election finance infrac‑
possibility that the documents tions and bank fraud.

Tesla halts Model 3 production Former US First lady

San Francisco: Tesla has temporarily
suspended its Model 3 assembly line as
Elon Muskʼs electric car firm struggles
Barbara Bush dies at 92
Washington: The Former First lady of the
to deliver on targets, the media report‑
US, Barbara Bush, died on Tuesday at the
ed on Tuesday.
age of 92 after having been in failing
The company said the move was a
health for some time, a family spokesper‑
planned production pause of up to five
son said.
days. It is the second t ime since
The cause of her death has not yet
February that Tesla has halted its pro‑
been revealed, but on Sunday a family
duction line for the Model 3 at its
spokesman had said that Mrs. Bush
Fremont, California plant, reports the
decided to refuse further medical treat‑
Guardian.
ment, except for "comfort care", Efe
"These periods are used to improve
reported.
automation and systematically address
Car manufacturers typically stop or slow production of The wife of former President George
bottlenecks in order to increase produc‑
new models when ironing out problems with production. H.W. Bush (1989‑1993) and mother of
tion rates," a company spokesperson
former President George W. Bush (2001‑
said. The shutdown took Tesla staf f at automation" at the Tesla plant had contributed 2009) had suffered chronic obstructive
the plant by surprise, forcing them to use vaca‑ to what he calls "manufacturing hell" and had
pulmonary disease for some time, which
tion days or stay at home without pay, accord‑ actually slowed down manufacturing of the cru‑
affected her cardiac capacity and led to
ing to BuzzFeed. cial mass‑market model. hospitalization on numerous occasions
Tesla suspended production of its Model 3 for "We had this crazy, complex network of con‑ over the past years.
four days in February in what the company said veyor belts … And it was not working, so we got
"Barbara Bush was a fabulous first lady
was planned work to improve automation and rid of that whole thing," Musk told CBS News.
and a woman unlike any other who
address bottlenecks. The electric car firm has repeatedly missed brought levity, love, and literacy to mil‑ Wife of a President, and
It warned of possibly more periods of down‑ targets and was now trying to reach a produc‑
lions. To us, she was so much more. Mom mother of another.
time in the coming months. tion volume of 2,500 vehicles per week. kept us on our toes and kept us laughing
Car manufacturers typically stop or slow pro‑ Musk recently said Tesla was managing to mother of another, the first being Abigail
until the end. I'm a lucky man that
duction of new models when ironing out prob‑ make 2,000 Model 3s a week, but failed to Adams in the early 19th century.
Barbara Bush was my mother," George W.
lems with production. assuage doubts about the company reaching its She became very popular in the US as
Bush said in a statement released by the
Tesla took shortcuts with testing of its pro‑ 5,000‑a‑week target in three monthsʼ time. an advocate for universal literacy, a
George W. Bush Presidential Center.
duction line in order to get to the market more Musk tweeted on April 13 that Tesla would be cause for which she actively participated
Born on June 8, 1925 in New York,
quickly, which some experts say have resulted profitable and the cash flow positive in the third with various organizations and to which
Barbara Pierce ‑‑ her maiden name ‑‑ was
in early manufacturing problems, the Guardian and fourth quarters, with no need to raise she felt very close as her son Neil was
the second woman in the US history to be
reported. Musk had admitted that "excessive money. diagnosed as dyslexic.
the wife of one US President and the
TheSouthAsianTimes.info US AFFAIRS April 21-27, 2018 11

Comey calls Trump 'serial liar', 'morally unfit' to be President

Washington: Former FBI Director
James Comey, in his first inter‑
view since being fired last May,
said that Donald Trump is
"morally unfit" to be US
President, a "serial liar" who
treated women like "meat" and it
was "possible" that Russians had
material that could be used to
blackmail him.
In an exclusive interview with
ABC News' chief anchor George
Stephanopoulos on Sunday night,
he also described Trump as a
"stain" on everyone who worked
for him.
Comey compared the Trump
administration to a "mafia fami‑
ly" and said that the President
was incinerating the country's
crucial norms and traditions like
a "wildfire".
Comey's remarks were the lat‑
est salvo in a war of words with
the US President, who blasted
the him on Twitter earlier:
"Slippery James Comey, a man
who always ends up badly, will
Leadership" on Tuesday.
Also a lawyer, Comey respond‑
ed to the salacious allegations
that Trump had cavorted with
prostitutes in Moscow that left
him vulnerable to blackmail by
the Russian government.
"I think it's possible, I don't
know... These are more words I
never thought I'd utter about a
President of the US, but it's possi‑
ble." Comey said that he would
not favor impeaching Trump,
because that "would let the
American people off the hook"
Former FBI director James Comey gave his first interview to ABC two and the public was "duty bound"
days before the publication of his tell‑all book. (Photo courtesy ABC) to vote Trump out of office in the
next election.
go down as the WORST FBI person who treats women like During the interview, Comey
Director in history, by far!" they're pieces of meat, who lies repeated his assertion, made at a
Comey is now a crucial witness constantly... and insists the Congressional hearing that
for Special Counsel Robert American people believe it, that Trump told him that he expected
Mueller's investigation into the person's not fit to be President of loyalty and pressured him to
Russia probe. the US, on moral grounds," he drop an investigation into
Comey however dismissed added. Michael Flynn. The former
claims that Trump was medically The interview came ahead of National Security Adviser has
unfit to hold office. "I think he's the release of his tell‑all book "A since pleaded guilty to lying to
morally unfit to be President. A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and the FBI and is now cooperating
with Muller.
Asked, "was President Trump
obstructing justice?" Comey
responded, "Possibly. It's certain‑
ly some evidence of obstruction
of justice."
Comey said he had "grave" mis‑
givings about the Trump presi‑
dency even before it began. In a
meeting with then President
Barack Obama in the last days of
his administration, Comey said
he told him: "I dread the next
four years. But in many ways, I
feel great pressure to stay to try
and protect the institution I
lead." Comey also told ABC News
that he knew the investigation
into former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton's use of a private
email server was going to pres‑
ent a "no‑win situation" for him.
After the interview aired,
Trump's party ‑‑ via the
Republican National Committee ‑
‑ said Comey's publicity tour for
his new book showed "his true
higher loyalty is to himself ".

ʻMission accomplishedʼ by Syrian strikes?

Comment by Shivaji Sengupta flag, oblivious to Syriaʼs demise. And they And to demonstrate resolve, the United
are getting ready to vote for whomever States may need to take more costly and

D
efense Department officials
announced on Saturday that
American‑led strikes against Syria
had taken out the “heart” of President
Bashar al‑Assadʼs chemical weapons pro‑
gram, acknowledging at the same time
that the Syrian government most likely
retained some ability to again attack its
own people with chemical agents.
Warplanes and ships from the United
States, Britain and France launched more
than 100 missiles at three chemical
weapons storage and research facilities
near Damascus and Homs. And, like
George W. Bush (weeks into Iraq inva‑
sion), President Trump announced:
Mission Accomplished!
However, there are some important
questions to answer. The first and fore‑
most among them is: Was it really mission
accomplished? Since there seem to be no
casualties at the site of the allied bomb‑
ing, is it possible that there was no one
there? That the bombing may have been
done on abandoned sites? If that is so, the
allied effort may well have been “full of
sound and fury, signifying nothing.” The
second question is, even if the bombing
did destroy some of chemical weapons,
are the Americans overstating their suc‑
cess? The opinion of experts who were
not involved in the bombing is that Syrian
President Bashar al‑Assadʼs chemical
weaponry has not been all destroyed
because they most probably did not
stockpile all their weapons in one place.
These are nagging questions.
Also, the strike raises questions about
Mr. Trumpʼs competing impulses when it
comes to Syria ̶ on the one hand, the
President wants to be seen by his follow‑
ers as a no‑nonsense belligerent, who
US, allies struck Syrian targets in
response to the regimeʼs chemical
attacks on civlians
means what he says. He had said that he
wouldnʼt let Assad get away with heinous‑
ly gassing his own people in Syria – he
took action; on the other, his unshakable
belief that since 9/11 much of American
military response in the Middle East has
been a waste of time and, more impor‑
tantly, money. So then how does he
explain his continual presence in Syria? A
presence that I shall argue later in this
column, might be necessary because of
bombings like this.
As with the subject of Donald Trumpʼs
habitual exaggeration, this bombing of
Syria may also have been made with one
eye on the mid‑term elections, especially
on his 63 million supporters. To them,
this bombing is reassuring. They do not,
or would not see that there is an essential
contradiction in the Trumpʼs twin policies:
bombing Syria also precludes withdrawal
of troops that Trump is determined to do.
Why? Bombing creates chaos, and deep
civil unrest (remember Iraq?). If American
troops are withdrawn from Syria, experts
fear there will be a severe lack of military
order. And in this vacuum, ISIS will rush
in. But to the 63 million Trump fans none
of this is important. They are getting
another chance to wave the American
Trump supports.
But while I do not agree with President
Trumpʼs policies on most issues, I also do
not have much confidence in many of the
experts on foreign affairs. Witness, for
instance, the following statement by Arhi‑
Milo in the current Foreign Affairs:
“The United States does not derive its
credibility from the words of the execu‑
tive below, but Trumpʼs behavior carries
consequences. As the president under‑
mines the nation's credibility at home and
abroad, allies will hesitate to trust
American promises, and the US threats
would lose some of their force. The risks
of deadly miscalculation will increase.
White House dials back Haley's
Russia sanctions talk
Washington: President Donald Trump
walked back US Ambassador to the UN
Nikki Haleyʼs assertion on Sunday that the
administration would be imminently
announcing another round of sanctions
against Russia.
A White House official told Politico
Monday that Trump had not signed off on
the sanctions, despite Haleyʼs Sunday com‑
ments on CBSʼ “Face the Nation” that they
would be announced as soon as Monday.
The administration had reviewed a series
of options as part of the response to the
chemical attack in Syria earlier this month,
including the sanctions on Russian entities,
but Trump had not officially approved
them, the official said. "The sanctions were
always something that was just under con‑
sideration," the official said, adding, "We
would not have rolled out sanctions
extreme actions. Other sources of credi‑
bility, such as American military prowess
and the general faith in US institutions
may mitigate some of the damage
wrecked by Trump. But there is no substi‑
tute for the president whose words didn't
matter.”
Yet this week U.K. and France joined the
U.S. in the bombing of Syria. I still believe
that the U.S. is the most powerful country
in the world, that it would take a major
error on the presidentʼs part to endorse
Arhi‑Miloʼs view that “Trumpʼs behavior
carries consequences.” As far as coopera‑
tion on foreign affairs is concerned, the
United States is still getting it.
through somebody saying them on a
Sunday show."
The official added that Trump had not
totally ruled out additional sanctions, but
was not prepared to move forward with
them at this time. Trumpʼs decision was
first reported by the Washington Post.
Haley had made the additional sanctions
sound like a done deal. "You will see that
Russian sanctions will be coming down,"
she said on CBS on Sunday, adding that
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin "will be
announcing those on Monday, if he hasn't
already, and they will go directly to any
sort of companies that were dealing with
equipment related to Assad and chemical
weapons use."
Trumpʼs hesitation to impose new sanc‑
tions on Russia was met with criticism by
some Democratic lawmakers. .
 12 April 21-27, 2018
'Unusual demand' reason for cash crunch: Government
New Delhi: Amidst reports of a
cash crunch and empty ATMs,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
sought to assuage fears, saying
"there is more than adequate cur‑
rency in circulation", even as the
government blamed "unusual
demand" for shortages in some
areas.
"Have reviewed the currency sit‑
uation in the country. Overall
there is more than adequate cur‑
rency in circulation and also avail‑
able with the banks. The tempo‑
rary shortage caused by 'sudden
and unusual increase' in some
areas is being tackled quickly,"
Jaitley tweeted.
"There is no cash crunch in the
country. There is around Rs 18
lakh crore currency supply now,
which is close to the circulation
during the demonetization period.
We keep Rs 2.5‑3 lakh crore more
currency in sto ck for excess
demand," said S.C Garg, Economic
Affairs Secretary.
He said there was unusually
high demand for currency in the
last couple of months. As opposed
to an average demand of about Rs
Sushma Swaraj in
China from Saturday
Beijing: India's
External Affairs
Minister Sushma
Swaraj will hold bilat‑
eral talks with her
Chinese counterpart
Wang Yi during her
two‑day China visit
beginning on Saturday.
Sushma Swaraj will
meet Wang on the
sidelines of the foreign
ministers' meeting of
the Shanghai
Cooperation Summit
(SCO).
She will meet a more
powerful Wang, who in
March was elevated to
China's top diplomatic
post of State
Councillor. They are
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
likely to discuss a host of thorny
issues.
India‑China ties were severely
hit by the 73‑day military stand‑
off in Doklam last year. Both
sides are now trying to restore
normalcy to their ties by step‑
ping up bilateral exchanges.
China's opposition to India's
entry into the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) and its move to
block bids at the UN to list
Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan‑ will meet Chinese President Xi
based Jaish‑e‑Mohammed mili‑
tant group, as a global terrorist,
has irked New Delhi. In addition, Summit.
New Delhi has reservations
about the China‑Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC),
People throng an ATM in Assam's Nagaon
district on April 17. (Photo: IANS)
20,000 crore a month, "in the first
13 days of April itself there was a
demand of Rs 45,000 crore", he
said.
"In the last few days we have
pumped cash into the system to
meet the demand. We still have a
reserve of Rs 1.75 lakh crore."
Garg attributed this sudden cash
demand to localized phenomenon.
"This unusual spurt in demand
is seen more in some parts of the
country like Andhra Pradesh,
which cuts through Pakistan‑
held Kashmir that is claimed by
India.
Sushma Swaraj, whose last
visit to China was in 2015, is
also likely to meet other top
Chinese leaders.
India's Defence Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman will also
visit China next week and hold a
dialogue with her counterpart.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Jinping in June on the sidelines
of the Shanghai Cooperation
India and Pakistan were
admitted to the China‑led block
in 2017.
INDIA
Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh and Bihar," the Finance
Ministry said in a statement on
Tuesday.
It said the government, along
with the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI), has taken all steps to meet
this unusual demand.
"We had adequate reserves of
currency notes which have been
used to meet fully the extraordi‑
nary demand generated so far. We
continue to have in stock ade‑
Traveling to US this summer?
Apply for visa early
New Delhi : The US Embassy here
said that Indians planning to visit
the US this summer should apply
early for visas due to heavy
demand.
In a statement, the Embassy
said that applicants across India
may have to wait 30 days or
more for a visa interview
appointment to become available
and that it expects this wait time
to continue for at least the next
few months
"Mission India's non‑immigrant
visa workload is one of the
largest in the world, processing
Won't stake claim to Taj
Mahal: Sunni Wakf Board
New Delhi: The Uttar
Pradesh Sunni Wakf
Board on Tuesday told
the Supreme Court that it
won't stake claim to the
ownership of the Taj
Mahal.
Asking senior counsel
A.D.N. Rao appearing for
the Archeological Survey
of India (ASI) to take
instructions, a bench of
Chief Justice Dipak Misra,
Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said
that once the Board pressed its
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Government to up printing of Rs 500 notes
New Delhi: To meet the "unusual" currency demand in the country,
the government has decided to increase printing of Rs 500 notes by
five times, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said
here on Tuesday.
"We have taken steps to increase the supply of currency in case
the demand were to go up further. To give you an example, Rs 500
notes ‑‑ we print about 500 crore of notes per day. We have taken
steps to raise this production five times," Garg said at a press meet
called to calm fears after reports of currency shortages emerged
from several parts of the country.
"Very soon, in the next couple of days, we will have a supply of
about Rs 2,500 crore worth of Rs 500 notes per day. In a month,
supply would be about Rs 70,000‑75,000 crore. These notes alone
can more than meet the demand of any month," he said.
quate currency notes of all days/months," it added.
denominations, including of Rs The statement further said the
500, 200 and Rs 100 to meet any government is taking all steps to
demand," the statement said. ensure that ATMs are supplied
"The government would like to with cash and to get non‑function‑
assure all the people that there al ATMs working at the earliest.
has been adequate supply of cur‑ Reacting to the situation, West
rency notes which has met entire Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
demand so far. The government Banerjee on Tuesday said it
would also like to assure that it reminds her of the demonetisa‑
would be supplying adequate cur‑ tion days.
rency notes to meet even higher She also asked whether a "finan‑
levels of demand if such demand cial emergency" was going on in
were to continue in the coming the country.
over a million visas a year," the reminded them that the only way
statement said. "In the last five to get a US visa is through offi‑
years, the demand for visas to cial channels.
travel to the United States has "Someone can either apply and
increased by over 60 per cent." have an interview at a US
According to the statement, the Embassy or Consulate, or if they
Embassy in New Delhi and the have had a visa before and meet
four Consulates across India "are certain criteria, they may qualify
constantly working to improve to have their visa renewed," the
service and meet demand, but statement said.
applicants should be aware that "Anyone claiming they can
the summer is a peak travel sea‑ guarantee a visa in exchange for
son and there will be delays in a fee is attempting to defraud
getting visa appointments". you. Applicants should be smart
It also advised applicants are to and apply the right way," it
beware of scams and fraud and added.
monument as a Wakf
property, your statement
that you will not be stak‑
ing claim will not help,"
said the bench.
The court directed the
next hearing of the mat‑
ter on July 27.
In its earlier hearing
on April 11, the apex
court had asked the
Wakf Board to produce
an original title docu‑
right over the monument then it ment bearing the signatures of
has to adjudicate the issue. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to
"Once you have registered the prove its claim.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Kathua case: Resignation of Modi loses voice when
Kashmir ministers accepted it comes to rape: NYT
People from all walks of life con‑
demned the brutal gang rape and
murder of an eight‑year‑old whose
body was recovered from a forest‑
ed area near her home in Jammu
and Kashmir
Jammu: The BJP has accepted the
resignation of two of its ministers
from the Jammu and Kashmir
coalition government but said
their unwise move to go and paci‑
fy people rallying for suspects of
rape and murder of a minor was
"mistaken for trying to shield the
accused".
BJP General Secretary and its
Kashmir pointsman Ram Madhav,
who was here to attend the party's
legislature meet, ruled out any
threat to the ruling alliance in the
wake of the resignations by the
two ministers ‑ Choudhary Lal
Sing h and Chander Prakash
Ganga.
Singh and Ganga had attracted
widespread anger and criticism
for attending a meeting of the
Hindu Ekta Manch, a lose group
formed to support the accused,
which demanded a Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) probe into
the case.
The meeting in Hiranagar area
of Kathua district was called in
support of the accused in the bru‑
tal gang rape and murder of an
eight‑year‑old whose body was
recovered from a forested area
Protesting rapes, DCW
chief fasts for 5th day
New Delhi: Demanding
the death penalty for
rapists, Delhi
Commission for Women
(DCW) Chairperson
Swati Maliwal continued
her indefinite hunger
strike for the fifth day
despite warnings from
doctors.
"Her (Maliwal's) med‑
Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson
ical condition is not
Swati Maliwal on an indefinite hunger strike
good. Doctors have
to demand death penalty for rapists.
advised her to break
her fast but she is not giving up," a
DCW official said. She has not been
eating food since Friday and is sur‑
viving on water, the official said.
While Maliwal launched the protest
at the Rajghat here to protest the
rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh's
Unnao and Jammu and Kashmir's
Kathua districts, the rapes of two
more minors were reported. By
evening, the DCW Chairperson
tweeted: "The police initially asked
me to vacate the place. Now the
DCP has come with entire police
force with a false doctors' report
saying my life is in danger. But I can months," she said.
Sanji Ram, the alleged mastermind of Kathua rape
and murder case, in Jammu. (Photo: IANS)
near her home, days after she
went missing on January 10.
Mehbooba Mufti also chaired a
meeting of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) legislators and senior
ministers in Srinagar.
According to police charges, the
minor from the nomad Bakerwal
community was kidnapped on
January 10. She was taken to a
run for 5 km. They will forcibly pick
me up in the night. They are not
allowing me to consult a private
doctor. What is the fear @naren‑
dramodi?"
In an earlier tweet, Maliwal
sought the support of political lead‑
ers, organizations and social work‑
ers saying her campaign was nei‑
ther targeted against nor in favor of
any individual, organization or
party. "This fast is for a society free
from any exploitation of women and
children. My demand is death penal‑
ty for rapists of minors within six
INDIA April 21-27, 2018
New York: Sharply criticizing
Prime Minister Narendra's
silence over rape cases in
India, the New York Times in
an editorial on Tuesday said
such and other violent inci‑
dents were part of "an organ‑
ized and systematic campaign
by nationalist forces" to ter‑
rorize women, Muslims and
Dalits in the country.
The editorial titled "Silence
as Women Are Attacked"
appeared on in the New York
edition of the daily, reminding
how Modi tweets "frequently
and considers himself a talent‑
ed orator".
"Yet he loses his voice when
it comes to speaking out about
the dangers faced by women
and minorities who are fre‑
quent targets of the nationalist
and communal forces that are
part of the base of his
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP,"
said the Times.
It recalled how on Friday,
Modi said the rape cases had
temple in Rasana village in Kathua brought shame on the country
district. Her attackers, which and that "our daughters will
included temple of ficial and definitely get justice".
policemen, drugged and gang "But his remarks ring hollow
raped her over days before finally because he waited so long to
killing her and dumping her body talk about the cases and spoke
in a forest nearby, seven days in broad generalities ‑‑
later. The girl was attacked to describing the crimes as 'inci‑
scare away the nomadic Muslim dents being discussed since
community out of the village.
Unnao rape: CBI gets 7‑day
custody of accused lawmaker
Lucknow: A special CBI court has
sent rape accused Uttar Pradesh
BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar
to seven days CBI custody while the
medical examination of the 17‑year‑
old victim was conducted at a hospi‑
tal here. Sengar, the lawmaker from
Unnao's Bangamau, however con‑
tinued to claim that he was inno‑
cent and told media persons before
he was presented before the court
that he had full faith in God and the
judiciary. Accused of raping a 17‑ BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is accused of raping a teenage
year‑old and conspiring to kill her girl arrives at a CBI court in Lucknow. (Photo: IANS)
father, who died of injuries he sus‑
Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
tained while beaten brutally in
Earlier, the victim, who along with
police custody by Sengar's brother
her mother and uncle, were brought
and some aides, was arrested by the
here under tight security in the
CBI on Friday after a day‑long inter‑
morning, underwent tests at the
rogation. He was also confronted
Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.
with some facts by the agency.
The victim later told media per‑
Woman Shashi Singh, who is
sons that Prime Minister Narendra
accused of taking the girl to the leg‑
Modi's Thursday statement that the
islator has also been arrested. Three
guilty will be brought to book was
cases have been filed against the
very reassuring and that he now
party legislator under various sec‑
hoped that justice will be done in
tions of the Indian Penal Code and
her case. She also said that the
the Protection of Children from
arrest of the accused legislator was
13
past two days'."
The daily accused the Prime
Minister of taking a similar
approach in the past when
addressing cases in which vigi‑
lante groups affiliated with his
political movement attacked
and killed Muslims and Dalits,
falsely accused of killing cows.
"Modi's silence is as perplex‑
ing as it is distressing," the
Times said, adding he seemed
to have failed to learn the les‑
son of the Congress that did
not forcefully respond to
protests in late 2012 and
early 2013 after a young
woman was raped and killed
on a public bus in New Delhi.
"The BJP won the elections
in large part because Modi
promised to make the govern‑
ment more responsive to the
needs of Indians who were left
behind by a government
dogged by corruption scandals
and widely considered rudder‑
less. "Instead, he has exhibited
a pattern of silence and deflec‑
tion that is deeply worrying to
anybody who cares about the
health of the world's largest
democracy."
The Times editorial said
Modi could not be expected to
discuss every crime committed
by someone who supports
him.
also a positive development.
She also thanked the media and
the CBI for taking up her battle that
so far was a "lonely and losing bat‑
tle". The victim tried to set herself
ablaze outside Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath's residence, claiming
inaction in the rape case that took
place in 2017. Later, her father was
picked up by the police and alleged‑
ly beaten up in custody by the
MLA's brother Atul Singh and his
aides, following which he died in
hospital.
 14 April 21-27, 2018 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Frank F. Islam

P
rime Minister Narendra Modi set out
an ambitious agenda when he
announced his administration's
Make in India wonʼt work
Make in India program in September 2014.
The centerpiece of that program is the
National Manufacturing Policy, the purpose
of which is to make India a global manufac‑
unless there is a strategic plan w Key Partners: The top three allies who
turing hub. Its intent is to increase manufac‑ can contribute the most to achieving the
turing's share of the country's GDP from 16 plan's goals.
per cent to 25 per cent by 2022 and to cre‑ My quick review of a variety of source
ate 100 million additional jobs by that year. material suggests the following as potential
The policy sets out 11 areas of concentra‑ items for inclusion in that plan that might
tion, including focus sectors, easing of regu‑ have great effect for simultaneously driving
latory environments and acquisition of tech‑ GDP growth and job creation:
nology and development. It identifies 25 w Key Result Area: Infrastructure
specific focus sectors, including automo‑ Development. India's infrastructure prob‑
biles, defense equipment and medical tech‑ lems appear consistently as the most impor‑
nology. tant factor that is retarding its growth
As Prime Minister Modi reported during potential.
the "Make in India week" in February 2016, w Key Driver: Automobile Manufacturing.
progress had been made on the manufactur‑ The National Manufacturing Policy cites
ing agenda. Growth in manufacturing's automobiles as an area in which India
share of the GDP and employment since the already has a competitive advantage that
introduction of the program, however, has can be built upon.
been quite sluggish. w Key Partner: The United States. These
Growth in manufacturing's share of the GDP and employment since the introduction of
More recently, in mid‑March, during a visit "indispensable partners" have just begun to
the Make in India program has been quite sluggish.
to India, American economist and Nobel scratch the surface of trade arrangements
Prize winner Paul Krugman called attention and exchanges that can be mutually
Manufacturing Policy outlines a broad range policy into action with a laser‑beam focus. It
to the need for India to hit manufacturing beneficial.
of initiatives covering a number of diffuse delivers the keys to the kingdom. It identi‑
with a much bigger stick. After lauding India India continues its ascent, but not as
and diverse areas. A policy is not a plan. It is fies:
for its significant economic growth and quickly as intended. A Make in India
a prescription that must be targeted to w Key Result Areas: The few areas (3‑7) in
becoming a better place to do business, Manufacturing Strategic Plan will kick on
achieve the desired end goals ‑‑ in this which strategic action programmes must be
Krugman observed: "India's lack in the man‑ the after‑burners and accelerate that ascent.
instance, manufacturing being 25 per cent developed and implemented effectively and
ufacturing sector could work against it, as it Putting the right plan in place and imple‑
of the GDP and 100 million new jobs by efficiently.
doesn't have the jobs essential to sustain the menting it properly should make the sky the
2022. w Key Drivers: The critical factors or
projected growth in demography. You have limit for the Indian economy and the Indian
A well‑constructed strategic plan provides sources of competitive advantage that can
to find jobs for people." people.
the means for that targeting. It translates be leveraged for success.
The Make in India's National

Will social media replace traditional media as fourth pillar?

By Saket Suman Added to this is the challenge media.
posed by the affordability of the But the rapidly rising popularity

T
he increasing polarization
among media in India ‑‑ and
perhaps across the world ‑‑
has led to an unprecedented trust
deficit in everyday news. What was
once regarded as the fourth pillar
of democracy today finds itself
under the scrutiny of citizens as
tainted news published with self‑
securing motives are an everyday
occurrence in our times.
The times we live in are extreme‑
ly challenging for the media. How
media outlets have been hand‑in‑
It is high‑time that media entrepreneurs and voices from the fraternity
glove with political leaders and
parties is no secret today. A jour‑
nalist now commands far less
respect in society than was the
case even a decade ago. All of this,
along with a host of other com‑
pelling factors, have together led
to a massive downslide in the
media's place in a liberal democra‑
cy. There is the suspicious eye of
the audience, who, even while
reading or watching what the
media reports, refuses to believe.
Media is no longer, for most audi‑
ences, the honest purveyor of news privileged.
‑‑ difficult to digest but apparently
true.
The very purpose of media's
internet in India. Telecom opera‑
tors have already rolled out unlim‑
ited monthly internet plans that
are, quite shockingly, even cheaper
than a monthly subscription of
most newspapers. At the same
time, there is a significant rise of
"social media influencers" across
platforms on the internet.
Celebrities of the internet in their
own right, many social media influ‑
encers target niche audiences
based on language, geographical
location and even religion and
caste, in many cases.
re‑evaluate traditional media's interaction with social media.
But the most significant factor
existence is in a crisis ‑‑ a crisis ‑‑ whether it is cultural or social leading to a slide in the traditional
that could well result in social and clubbed as "soft" news ‑‑ is fast media's position is a result of its
media taking on the "fourth pillar diminishing. Pages that were earli‑ own doing. In the race to make the
of democracy" tag. And this could er dedicated to theatre, music and utmost use (and monetary profit)
happen far earlier than projected. books are being replaced with of the internet, media outlets of
This may happen because of a "hard" politics ‑‑ or simply negative our times have given it their entire
variety of reasons, primarily and conflict‑bearing news ‑‑ that content. The excitement to read
because the attraction that the point to the grim picture of the the newspaper early in the morn‑
social media has for those who times we are living in. There is no ing, therefore, is gradually dying,
were earlier fed by the mainstream space to breathe for a particular because almost everything that
media and the increasing afford‑ section of readers that is intellec‑ appears in the newspaper is
ability of the internet for the less tually inclined. Social media, thus, already trending on the social
comes as a natural relief to such media in advance.
From television channels to most audience as just a couple of clicks The circulation mafias and selec‑
leading dailies in India, the in the keyboard will lead a visitor tive advertisements have made
reportage on non‑sensational news to the content that he wants. matters worse for the traditional
of social media and its increasing
user‑base cannot alone replace
media as the fourth pillar of
democracy. After all, media is the
trusted voice of the people and, as
African‑American human rights
activist Malcolm X said, media is
"the most powerful entity on earth.
They have the power to make the
innocent guilty and to make the
guilty innocent, and that's power.
Because they control the minds of
the masses".
Hasn't social media too come to
command a similar, if not more
vicious and quicker, authority
today?
Social media and the internet
are still new phenomena in India,
something that even today's col‑
lege‑goers have seen evolving
before their eyes. Traditional
media, on the other hand, has been
around for hundreds of years. It is
high‑time that media entrepre‑
neurs and voices from the fraterni‑
ty re‑evaluate traditional media's
interaction with social media.
If not, social media may well, if
not already, replace the traditional
media as the fourth estate ‑‑ and
that is a fear more forbidding.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY April 21-27, 2018 15
By Surekha Vijh in Washington

A
t their Legislative Day on Capitol Hill
on April 12, the American Association
of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
addressed one score Congress members,
Congress members promise
bringing to the fore some of the major con‑
cerns of the Indian‑American community, par‑
ticularly those affecting the physicians and
their patients.
to address AAPI concerns
Representatives from both the major politi‑
cal parties agreed that there is a shortage of
At their Legislative Day on Capitol Hill, AAPI highlighted acute
physicians in the US, and the issue of increas‑
ing residencies should be addressed in
physicians’ shortage in America, which affects healthcare
Congress. delivery and argued for increasing residency slots.
AAPI had over a hundred of its own repre‑
sentatives at the annual event held at the CA). “India is our friend, and Indian
Rayburn House Office Building, highlighting Americans are the hardest working communi‑
issues like the South Asiansʼ heart health, low‑ ty in the US including Indian physicians.”
ering the cost of prescription drugs, immigra‑ According to AAPI, there are patients who
tion reforms including of H‑1 and J‑1visas, face lengthy delays in various specialties, a
increasing residency slots, Medicare and situation which will worsen over time.
Medicaid reimbursement, Tort reform The bipartisan members of Congress dis‑
(reducing the practice of defensive medicine) cussed ways to reform health care delivery, to
and individual mandate of Obamacare which ensure its cost‑effectiveness, and the negative
has been repealed. effects of defensive medicine, which has driv‑
In a show of support, the Indian‑American en up the cost of health care. Many AAPI
House members, all Democrats ‑‑ Pramila members expressed concerns over legislation
Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorth and Ro Khanna ‑ that would prohibit international medical
‑ addressed AAPI delegates, listened to their graduates from securing residency positions
concerns and promised full support. in the U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone
AAPI President Dr. Gautam Samadder, a
Rep. Ed Royce addressing Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi
On the H‑1B matter, Rep. Jayapal told the at the AAPI Legslative
the AAPI representatives addressed the event.
prominent physician with decades of service, gathering she had been an immigration attor‑ Day on the Hill.
expressed hope that the Legislative Day will ney for 15 years and would be trying her best the healthcare, academic, research and has come to be recognized as vital among
push forward AAPI cause. “AAPI represents to push through legislation. administrative positions across the nation. lawmakers. The Indian Embassy in
the interests of over 60,000 physicians and Others who spoke at the event included With their challenging work, dedication, com‑ Washington, D.C. held a reception for the
25,000 medical students and residents of Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D‑Hawaii), Joe Crowley passion, and skills, they have thus carved an AAPI delegation, lawmakers and prominent
Indian heritage in the United States. Almost (D‑NY), Andy Barr (R‑ KY), Barbara Comstock enviable niche in the American medical com‑ members of the Indian‑American community
10‑12 per cent of medical students entering (R‑VA), Steve Chabot (R‑OH), Mike Kelly (R‑ munity. Tulsi Gabbard said that AAPIʼs role on the same evening.
US schools are of Indian origin,” said Dr PA), Joaquin Castro (D‑TX), Peter Roskam
Samadder. AAPIʼs Legislative Affairs chair‑ (R‑IL) an, Frank Pallone (D‑NJ).
man, Dr. Vinod K. Shah said he was happy AAPIʼs lobbying efforts on some of the
that their concerns were being heard. “We issues affecting the broader Indian
look forward to legislative changes soon,” American community and other immigrant
Shah said. “There is a physician shortage in groups is a testament to its growth and
our country… AAPI believes that all reach. Being one of the oldest Indian
Americans have the right to see a physician.” American organizations, itʼs also among the
“This immensely successful event, including most influential, as was evident from the
our partnership with the Indian Embassy, has number of members of Congress who
showcased AAPIʼs strength in relationship showed up. .
building and maintaining ties with our elect‑ Frank Pallone said the growing influence
ed officials,” said Dr. Sampat Shivangi, of doctors of Indian heritage was evident as
Legislative Committee Co‑Chair. “From health increasingly they hold critical positions in
care to supporting reforms to the
legal immigration process, AAPI
continues to serve as a shining
example of leadership among
Indian American community
organizations.”
Most of the House members
agreed with AAPI demands that
there is an ongoing physician
shortage, which affects the quality
of care provided to American
patients. Rep. Pramila Jayapal with AAPI leaders including
“We are already pushing forward Dr Vinod Shah (on the mike), AAPIʼs Legislative
these demands,” said Ed Royce (R‑ Affairs chairman.

Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indian Embassy Santosh Jha speaking at the embassy
reception with AAPI President Dr Gautam Samadder to his right.
 16 April 21-27, 2018
Regional cinema eclipses Bollywood
L
akshwadweep to Ladakh ‑‑
the 65th National Film
Award winners' list encom‑
passed cinematic gems from the
length and breadth of India, with
an Assamese film "Village
Rockstars" walking away with the
Best Feature Film title after nearly
three decades.
The coveted Dadasaheb Phalke
Award ‑‑ the country's highest cin‑
ema honor ‑‑ was reserved for late
actor Vinod Khanna, known for
films like "Muqaddar Ka
Sikandar", "The Burning Train"
and "Amar, Akbar, Anthony".
Even the late Sridevi was given
a posthumous Best Actress honor
for her intense role as a mother in
her last released film "Mom".
"Sridevi was not given the honor
because of my relationship with
her, but because of her contribu‑
tion in 'Mom'," jury chairperson
Shekhar Kapur, who worked with
her in "Mr. India", told the media.
The winners' list has a good mix
of Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali
and Assamese films.
"Who knows where is Jasari
spoken? Has anyone heard of
Tulu?" Kapur said as he
announced the winners on Friday.
"This is national integration," he
India has become more important
in world: Vidya Vox
I
ndo‑American singer and
YouTube sensation Vidya Iyer,
famously known as Vidya Vox,
feels India holds an important
place globally more than ever as
many Indian musicians settled
abroad are letting the world know
about the country's music and
culture through their work.
"India is more important in the
world, more than ever. There are
so many talented artists and musi‑
cians who are of Indian origin and
grew up in different parts of the
world, paying homage to their
roots. By doing that, more parts of
the world are learning about India
and Indian music and culture,"
Vidya told IANS.
Vidya is currently seen in a
music video by brand Global Desi
owned by designer Anita Dongre.
The ace designer is collaborat‑
ing with women music artistes for
her #VoiceYourStyle maiden
music property that has been
launched under her boho chic
fashion label and will celebrate
India in the best way possible.
Vidya has created an exclusive
song track called "Minnale",
whose video also reflects the vibe
of the brand. Minnale means
lighting in Tamil. The song is in
A scene from the Assamese film
ʻVillage Rokstarʼ that won the Best Feature film
title at the National Film Awards.
stressed.
Movies in the languages other
than those specified in the VIII
Schedule of the Constitution in
the feature film categories were
also awarded, the jury pointed
out. The award for the Best Jasari
Film was given to "Sinjar", Best
Tulu Film to "Paddayi" and the
Best Ladakhi Film to "Walking
With The Wind", which won two
English and Tamil and merges
western pop with electronic
dance music.
Vidya says that there was such
an infectious energy on set, and
everyone was genuinely having a
great time while shooting.
Vidya was born in Chennai and
raised in the US and is known for
blending songs from both coun‑
tries. So does this define her iden‑
tity too ‑ mix of both the world?
"It definitely is the source of my
identity and the reason why I do
the music I do. I embraced that
side of me fully. The Indian music
is amazing these days ‑‑ so many
people who share similar back‑
grounds to me are making amaz‑
ing music that is true to their
story and I'm so excited to be able
to have such amazing peers," said
Vidya.
Vidya brings together influ‑
ences of her Indian‑American her‑
itage to create music that is
refreshingly new, unique and con‑
temporary, seamlessly fusing
together the intricacies of Indian
music with elements of electronic
and hip‑hop for an undeniably
catchy sound.
Since launching her YouTube
channel in 2015 with mashups of
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Late Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna was conferred
the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
other honours. Only "Newton"
emerged as the big winner out of
Hindi cinema as it bagged the
Best Hindi Film award and a
Special Mention for actor Pankaj
Tripathi. While Pankaj was emo‑
tional about winning an award in
a race he never knew he was in,
"Newton" director Amit V
Masurkar hoped the award and
the film's commercial success cre‑
Indian American singer and YouTube
sensation Vidya Iyer.
Western pop hits and music from
her native India, Vidya has
amassed over 350 million views
and over 3 million subscribers,
changing the course of her life in
ways she never thought possible.
So what kind of influence does
Vidya want to be on young aspi‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
ates a bigger space for relevant
political cinema.
Divya Dutta bagged the Best
Supporting Actress for "Irada",
which was named Best Film on
Environment
Conservation/Preservation.
Oscar winning composer A.R.
Rahman won two honors ‑‑ music
direction award for Tamil film
"Kaatru Veliyidai" and back‑
rants who look up to her?
"I just want all young musicians
to do music that is true to them‑
selves and their story. There is no
shortcut to working hard, you just
have to hustle and not be afraid to
reinvent yourself. Be unapologetic
and don't release any work that
ground music for "Mom".
Rima Das' "Village Rockstars",
about the spirit of poor but fun‑
loving children, also won the Best
Editing honor for the filmmaker.
The movie, apart from being
named Best Feature Film, got Best
Child Artist honor for Bhanita Das
and Best Location Sound
Recordist Award for Mallika Das.
Utpal Borpujari, whose debut
feature film "Ishu" won the Best
Assamese Film award, said
"Village Rockstars" has given the
Assamese film community a rea‑
son to rejoice.
S.S. Rajamouli's magnum opus
"Baahubali 2: The Conclusion"
won the Best Popular Film
Providing Wholesome
Entertainment, apart from bag‑
ging the Best Special Effects
honor.
The Best Director title was
bagged by Jayaraj for
"Bhayanakam", which also won
Best Screenplay (Adapted) and
Best Cinematography.
In the music category, veteran
K.J. Yesudas and Shashaa Tirupati
won the best playback singers,
while J.M. Prahalad won in the
best lyrics category for the song
"Muthuratna".
you're 100 per cent proud of,"
said Vidya.
Will she ever do Bollywood
films?
"Absolutely! If the right project
comes along, I'd love to be a part
of it. Right now, I'm just focusing
on writing new songs," she said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
'Gaal Nahin Kadni'
singer shot at
P
opular Punjabi singer Parmish
Verma was shot at by unidentified
assailants in Punjab. The Police
were investigating two gangsters who
claimed responsibility for the attack.
The "Gaal Ni Kadni" singer was shot at
when he was heading home from
Chandigarh's Elante Mall in his
Toyota Fortuner SUV with a friend.
Police said that a white Hyundai
Creta car followed singer's car from
Chandigarh. It stopped in front of his car
near Sector 74 of Mohali and fired shots
at him.
While Verma and his friend were
injured in the attack, they managed to
speed away from the spot. Verma called
up a senior police officer of Mohali dis‑
trict for help.
Mohali district police chief Kuldeep
Singh Chahal told the media that investi‑
gations were underway.
The hit song "Gaal Ni Kadni" has over
118 million views on YouTube.
'OCTOBER': A FRAGRANT TALE
ABOUT LOVE AND HOPE
Review
Actors Varun Dhawan and Banita Sandhu in 'October'
D
irector Shoojt Sircar's "October" is a
poignant tale about love and hope,
where Shiuli or night Jasmine flow‑
ers, which are perfumed and spread their fra‑
grance everywhere and abound in autumn, is
cleverly used as a metaphor to denote the
ephemeral nature of life.
Danish Walia or Dan (Varun Dhawan), as
he is fondly called is a hotel management
intern at a five star hotel in Delhi, who is
known for his brusque and self‑assured ways.
Always dreaming of something big, he dis‑
likes the menial chores assigned to him and
is irresponsible and undependable. His
friends, who are his colleagues at work,
including Shiuli Iyer (Banita Sandhu) and
Manjeet, often cover up for him and save him
from trouble.
A chance accident which lands Shiuli Iyer
in hospital, results in the uncaring and indif‑
ferent Dan transform into a new person. His
whole life revolves around ensuring that
Shiuli recovers and he inadvertently becomes
a pillar of strength for her family, especially
her mother Prof Iyer (Gitanjali Rao).
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Singer Parmish Verma
Although the pace of the film is slow and a
large chunk of it is based in a morbid setting
‑‑ a hospital, it is completely devoid of melo‑
drama.
Each character is well‑etched and fits snug‑
ly into the plot, which flows smoothly.
Although seemingly predictable, the end
brings with it an unexpected twist which
sums up the film succinctly.
Varun Dhawan excels as Dan and the meta‑
morphosis of his character without seeming
overly emotional or mushy, is well‑written
and astutely handled by him as an actor.
Shiuli Iyer played by Banita Sandhu is a
character you empathize with. She is effec‑
tive in her body language and expressions,
albeit on the hospital bed.
Gitanjali Rao as Prof Iyer, Shiuli's mother
leaves a strong impact through her portrayal
of a distraught, but strong mother who con‑
ducts herself with unflinching poise.
"October" may not be your typical action or
entertaining film, but the fragrance of the
characters and their lives lingers long after
you leave the theater.
Actress Rani Mukerji and director Siddharth P Malhotra during a special
screening of the film ʻHichkiʼ organised for Brad Cohen in Mumbai.
Brad Cohen lauds ' Hichki' team
A
merican motivational speaker and
educator Brad Cohen says director
Siddharth P. Malhotra and actress
Rani Mukerji have done a great job in
"Hichki".
Cohen's book "Front of The Class" ‑‑ detail‑
ing how Tourette Syndrome made him the
teacher, has inspired the project by Yash Raj
Films (YRF). The production banner organ‑
ized a screening for Cohen in Atlanta on
Friday. The movie is about Naina Mathur, who
has a nervous system disorder, Tourette
Syndrome, that forces an individual to make
involuntary repetitive movements or sounds.
The film's narrative focuses on turning disad‑
vantages into opportunities.
"Sid (Sidharth)......Amazing! Phenomenal!
ʻPeople express anger
differently; I do it with gaalisʼ
By Subhash K Jha
D
o yourself a favor. Don't make the
mistake of writing off Kapil Sharma,
although the entertainer who
brought so much cheer into our lives has
nothing to smile about at this point of time.
But then tough times, as we all know, don't
last. Tough human beings ‑‑ and good ones ‑‑
do. Hang me for saying this, but I truly
believe Kapil is a good human being. Simple,
straightforward, he always tells it like it is.
The deep connect with the masses is not a
put‑on. With him, what you see is what you
get. You won't find him mincing words.
Now that he has achieved stupendous suc‑
cess, he doesn't know how to handle it. I've
known him before he became a big star and
he has never been anything less than warm
and affectionate and seemingly vulnerable ‑‑
sharing with me his inner‑most fears and
insecurities.
Kapil last week agreed that he wrote offen‑
sive and abusive posts on his Twitter page
and had a verbal spat with a journalist.
When I spoke to him after the fireworks
that eroded his reputation even more, he was
not the least apologetic. On the contrary, he
told me things related to the incident that
further exposed the hollowness of this whole
sham and shindig that we call showbiz. "How
would you respond if you went through the
April 21-27, 2018 17
You did such a nice job on 'Hichki'. I had a
chance to watch it with over 100 family,
friends and fellow educators. Everyone loved
it," Cohen said in a statement to IANS.
"You should have heard the buzz of conver‑
sation after the movie. For now just know that
I appreciate your perseverance and dedica‑
tion to share my story and help inspire others
across the world. Rani was great! She's the
real deal. I can't wait to talk to her and you
about it. Please give my best to the entire
'Hichki' Team," he added. On this, Cohen said:
"Please thank Yash Raj Film for making the
viewing happen. You all feel so far away. I
wish you were closer. But for now you all
brought a lot of joy to the people closest to
me as they had a chance to view 'Hichki'."
The comedian‑actor Kapil Sharma.
same things? Wouldn't you be angry? We all
have our way of expressing anger. I do it with
gaalis," Kapil told me.
Kapil's is a sordid saga of backstabbing and
treachery. But it's not an unusual one in our
entertainment industry where opportunists
get a free run. But Kapil doesn't know how to
cope with it. A post‑script: Kapil has prom‑
ised to marry the very devoted, very intelli‑
gent and sorted Ginny ‑‑ the mysterious girl‑
friend about whom no one knows, and to
whom, Kapil says, he is "already married in
his mind". Making it official would be just the
kind of formality that is abhorred by the
informal, unassuming and unpretentious
boy‑man from Amritsar.
The man who brought abundant laughter
into our lives, I am sure, would continue to do
so.
See you, Kapil, after the break.
 18 April 21-27, 2018
WORLD'S LONGEST SANDSTONE
CAVE DISCOVERED IN MEGHALAYA
I
f you get lost inside, you may never be
able to find your way out," warns Brian D
Kharpran amiably, jabbing his finger at the
unkempt entrance of a sinister‑looking cave.
After trekking downhill for nearly an hour
through a forest's mossy trees and plants, we
are at the mouth of Krem Puri, which trans‑
lates from the local Khasi language to Cave
Fairy.
At 4,025ft above sea level and overlooking
a deep valley, the opening is at the base of a
steep cliff. The cave is 15 miles long and cov‑
ers an area of 13 sq km ‑ twice the size of
Gibraltar ‑ in lush green Mawsynram (40
miles from Shillong), reputed to be the
wettest place on Earth. Up until February, the
11.6 miles long Imawari Yeuta in Venezuela
was the world's longest such cave.
Mr Kharpran, a remarkably agile 71‑year‑
old banker, has been discovering caves for a
quarter of a century in this hilly, rain‑
drenched state. When he began exploring,
there were a dozen known caves in
Meghalaya. 28 expeditions later, he and a 30‑
strong international team of cavers, geolo‑
gists, hydrologists, biologists and archaeolo‑
gists have discovered more than 1,650 caves
in the state. Meghalaya is now known to be
home to some of the world's most complex
cave systems; and has more caves than any
other place in India.
Back at Krem Puri, we are ready to go in.
Wearing hard hats and headlamps, we
plunge into the darkness. On the left, there's a
low, small passage. If you want to make your
way through this claustrophobia‑inducing
hole in the rock wall, you need to wear caving
suits so you can crawl on your belly, hands
and knees.
On the main passage, two enormous boul‑
ders stand in the way in a cheek‑by‑
jowl formation. We
step over water‑
slicked stones, and
find a faint stream.
During the monsoon
rains, this would pos‑
sibly turn into a tor‑
rent.
Mr Kharpran spots a
big spider on the wall,
and we also find what
geologists suspect is a
fossil of a shark tooth
embedded in a rock.
"The cave," he says,
Krem Pu
"holds many secrets."
Krem Puri is an incredibly
complex maze of hundreds of
short passages and long stretches of corri‑
dors that are interconnected in a big network.
The pattern of the maze is quite unique, and
makes the cave a real labyrinth. It has some
fine stalactites and stalagmites. There's also
abundant fauna ‑ frogs, fish, giant Huntsman
spiders, bats.
"It is a serious challenge to survey this
cave," says Thomas Arbenz, a Swiss speleolo‑
gist and cave topographer.
You get a sense of it when you look closely
at the map of the cave and spot the striking
names surveyors have given to passage walls,
pits, ledges and large rocks on their under‑
GEOLOGY
Cavers need to crawl on belly, hands and knees in low passages
om Shillong)
miles fr
ri or C a ve Fairy (40 ve
thine ca
is a labyrin
ground journeys. The Great
White Shark, for example, is an imposing,
grey rock which resembles a shark and seems
to float in the middle of the canyon. Brittle
sandstone ledges make walking a real chal‑
lenge on Suicide Ledge Canyon. The Tight
Crawl and Dangerous Boulders leave nothing
to the imagination.
A passage called Sleepy Lunch where the
tired surveyors had a lunch break ‑ and one of says Mr Sauro.
them felt "particularly sleepy"‑ is a relief.
Scientists believe that they may have stum‑
bled on to some geological riches here. Italian nomadic troglodytes generally preferred
cave explorer Fransesco Sauro says they have
found and identified a few shark teeth and
discovered some bones that "could" be relat‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Meghalaya is now home
to some of the world's most
complex cave systems and has
more caves than any other place
in India. BBC’s Soutik Biswas
joined a group of speleologists -
those who study or explore
caves - for this report.
most caves in Meghalaya have not seen any
humans living in them.
What makes this cave unusual though, is
that it has been formed in sandstone. Caves
are usually formed by the dissolution of lime‑
stone. Rainwater picks up carbon dioxide
from the air, turns into feeble acid and dis‑
solves the rock. Caves in sandstone are not
common because the rock has low solubility.
Therefore, they need high amounts of water
to dissolve and erode to create underground
voids. Meghalaya experiences some of the
highest amounts of rainfall in the world, so
experts say it is not entirely surprising that
caves in sandstone can develop in such an
impressive way in the state.
Caves like Khem Puri are also a key to
understanding climate and fauna. "They are
in effect time capsules that in the often stable
underground environment preserve informa‑
tion about the past," says Simon Brooks, chief
coordinator of the Caving in the Abode of
Clouds Expedition, that explores caves in
Meghalaya.
These "archives of the surface" pre‑
serve traces of events that happened
on the surface of the planet through
the ages like ice cover, volcanic activ‑
ity, and floods.
Meghalaya's caves have begun to
attract explorers from all over the
world. The hills are home to India's
longest general cave ‑ the 31.1km‑
long Liat Prah limestone cave sys‑
tem. Many of them are huge, and
carry deep rivers. The deepest
cave ‑ the range from the highest
point in the cave to the lowest ‑ is
317m. The deepest vertical drop
exp lori ng caves in for cavers to rappel down is 97m.
s been
rian D Kharpran ha r 26 ye a rs The calcite formation in many
B
Meghalay
a fo
caves in the region are of "great, out‑
standing beauty and absolutely match
ed to marine dinosaurs ‑ common animals the ones seen elsewhere seen," says Mr
that populated the sea more than 60 million Arbenz. A thriving coal mining and limestone
years ago. Many of them are in areas of the quarrying business in the state poses the
cave that are extremely difficult and danger‑ greatest threat to these caves. (Mr Kharpran
ous to reach. even went to the Supreme Court in 2007 in a
"There have been other features of geologi‑ vain bid to stop coal mining in Meghalaya).
cal and paleontological interest that have Inside Krem Puri, the temperature is always
been discovered, which explorers can only a balmy 16‑17C, no matter what the tempera‑
reveal after they are scientifically analyzed," ture is outside. There's no shortage of oxygen
because there is always air flowing in
Did humans ever inhabit Krem Puri? through small openings, cracks, and two
Highly unlikely, say scientists, because the entrances.
But as Mr Khapran says, "You have got to
roomy cave entrances or rock shelters. Also be careful all the time when you are inside."
caves that get flooded during rains are not fit "You can never take chances with a cave."
for habitation, and that would mean that Pix source: BBC
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SUBCONTINENT April 21-27, 2018 19

Pakistan SC disqualifies Amnesty slams Pak military

Nawaz Sharif for life
Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme
Court disqualified former Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif from hold‑
ing public office or contesting
elections for lifetime in a landmark
verdict that could change the
course of the country's political
history.
A five‑member bench delivered
the verdict on the question of the
period of the disqualification of a
MP, Xinhua news agency reported.
The court had disqualified Sharif
as Prime Minister over corruption
charges in July last year but it had
not mentioned the disqualification
period in the verdict.
The five judges, in a unanimous
ruling, said those who were not
"honest" and "truthful" under the
country's constitution were
"banned from parliament for life".
The ruling Pakistan Muslim
League‑Nawaz (PML‑N) of Sharif
rejected the verdict and said the
former Prime Minister was "pun‑
ished for eliminating terrorism and
carrying out development proj‑
ects".
"The verdict is a joke and such
decisions have also been
announced about 17 Prime
Ministers," State Minister of
Information and Broadcasting
Maryam Aurangzeb said.
The Minister told reporters in
Islamabad that the verdict would
Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif was
disqualified over corruption charges.
not affect the PML‑N's perform‑
ance and the party would be victo‑
rious in the coming parliamentary
elections, scheduled in July.
"This is the same (kind of) deci‑
sion that led to the hanging of
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to the assassi‑
nation of Benazir Bhutto and
(then) to the disqualification of an
elected Prime Minister (Nawaz),"
she added. An influential opposi‑
tion leader, Jehangir Tareen, who
belongs to the Pakistan Tehrik‑e‑
Insaf of cricketer‑turned‑politician
Imran Khan, was also declared dis‑
qualified for life under the judg‑
ment. The ruling said the disquali‑
fication of any MP or a public ser‑
vant under Article 62 (1)(f) of the
Constitution would be permanent.
Such a person cannot contest elec‑
tions or become a member of
Parliament.
Sharif was ousted by the
Supreme Court last year for con‑
cealing in his nomination papers
the receivable income from his
son's company in the UAE. Sharif
has denied any wrongdoing.
The Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP) hailed the ruling against
Sharif.
PPP leader Khursheed Shah said
his party had repeatedly told
Sharif to let Parliament decide the
fate of politicians, "but he did not
listen and went to the Supreme
Court".
courts over death penalties
United Nations:
Amnesty
International has
slammed Pakistan's
military courts for
violating UN princi‑
ples and internation‑
al fair trial stan‑
dards in imposing
death sentences.
Amnesty
International's
report ‑‑ Death Amnestyʼs Senior Director for Law and Policy
Sentences and Tawanda Mutasah briefing the press.
Executions 2017 ‑‑
expressed concern that sentenced Indian national
Pakistan's military courts "were Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on
run by military officers subor‑ charges of espionage and sabo‑
dinate to the military chain of tage.
command ‑‑ and who had no India has denied that Jadhav
formal legal training ‑‑ in worked for Indian intelligence
breach of the UN Basic agencies or that he has worked
Principles on the Independence in Pakistan. The Amnesty
of the Judiciary". report did not specifically men‑
"The charges against the tion Jadhav.
defendants were not made pub‑ Amnesty said that Pakistan
lic and those convicted did not carried out more than 60 exe‑
have the right to appeal to civil‑ cutions in 2017, imposed over
ian courts," it said. 200 death sentences and there
The report said that Pakistani were more than 7,000 people
military courts also sentenced on death row.
civilians to death and added Briefing reporters, Amnesty
that its special courts "whose International Senior Director
proceedings did not meet inter‑ for Law and Policy Tawanda
national fair trial standards Mutasah said that death penal‑
imposed death sentences". ties have dropped steeply since
Pakistan's Field General Court a peak in 2015 when 326 peo‑
Martial (FGCM) in April 2017 ple were executed.

Six Sri Lankan ministers UN urges Maldives to allow ex-

quit unity government
Colombo: Six Sri Lankan min‑
isters resigned, saying they
were unable to continue
work in the country's unity
government.
The ministers were from
the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) which is led by
President Maithripala
Sirisena, reports Xinhua news
agency.
The six ministers are:
Sports Minister Dayasiri
Jayasekara, Minister of Social
Empowerment and Welfare
S.B Dissanayake, Disaster
Management Minister Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa, Labour
President Maithripala Sirisena has
Minister John Seneviratne,
Science, Technology and
Research Minister Susil Premajayantha
and Minister of Skills Development and
Vocational Training Chandima
Weerakkody.
The SLFP is a coalition partner in the
unity government along with the ruling
United National Party which is led by
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Ten other state and deputy ministers
accepted all the resignations.
belonging to the SLFP had also vacated
their positions earlier.
President Sirisena has accepted the
resignations of all the 16 legislators.
An official from the president's office
told Xinhua that although the 16 legisla‑
tors would no longer be in the govern‑
ment, they would continue to support
President Sirisena.
president to contest elections
Geneva: The UN Human
Rights Committee has
urged the Maldivian gov‑
ernment to allow former
President Mohamed
Nasheed to stand for
office, including the
upcoming presidential
election.
Nasheed, who was the
President of the Maldives
between 2008 and 2012,
was charged with crimes
related to terrorism after
his term ended and sen‑
tenced to 13 years in jail in
2015 as well as barred
from running in a presi‑
dential election for 16 Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed.
years, reports Efe news.
"The UN human rights experts found that "Political rights can be suspended or
the judicial proceedings in which Nasheed restricted only in exceptional circumstances
was convicted were based on vague legisla‑ and under certain conditions. And judicial
tion, contained serious flaws and violated his proceedings that violate the right to fair trial
right to a fair trial under the International can render the resulting restriction of politi‑
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights cal rights arbitrary," said Sarah Cleveland, a
(ICCPR)," the Committee said in a statement member of the committee.
on Monday. It also observed that restrictions The committee urged Maldives to quash
on Nasheed's right to stand for office violat‑ Nasheed's conviction and if necessary con‑
ed his right to political participation under duct a new trial to ensures fair trial
article 25 of the ICCPR. guarantees.
 20 April 21-27, 2018 INTERNATIONAL TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US, allies strike Syria,

draw flak from Assad, Putin
Washington/Damascus/Moscow/
London: The US, Britain and
France launched coordinated
strikes against Syria's research,
storage and military targets to
"punish" the Bashar al‑Assad
regime for an apparent chemical
attack in Douma that killed over
70 people. The military action
was denounced by Damascus and
its ally Moscow as a "failure" and
"an act of aggression".
Western allies warned Syria
that they could launch further
attacks if chemical weapons were
used again. The strikes were
intended to show Western resolve
in the face of what the leaders of
the three nations called "persis‑
tent violations of international
law". US President Donald Trump
via a tweet hailed the overnight
military strike as "perfectly exe‑
cuted", adding: "Mission
Accomplished". The strikes target‑
ed three facilities associated with
Syria's chemical weapons arsenal,
including a scientific research
facility around Damascus, a chem‑
ical weapons storage facility
around Homs alleged to be used
for sarin gas and a nearby com‑
mand post, said the Pentagon.
People protest against US strike on Syria outside the White House.
"The purpose of our actions is
to establish a strong deterrent
against the production, spread
and use of chemical
weapons...The wave of strikes is
the most significant attack
against Assad's government by
Western powers in seven years of
Syria's civil war," Trump said in
an address after the strike.
In Syria, the Foreign Ministry
described the missile strikes as
"barbaric aggression". Assad said
that it reflected the "failure" of
Western powers to achieve their
goals in Syria after the defeat of
the foreign‑backed militants.
Russian President Vladimir
Putin slammed the US and its
allies, saying that Washington
was "increasingly exacerbating
the humanitarian catastrophe in
Syria" and called for an immedi‑
ate UN Security Council meeting
to discuss the "an act of aggres‑
sion".
Iran's Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the
attack a "crime" but gave no indi‑
cation of any planned Iranian
response. Iran and its main proxy
force in the region, Lebanon's
Ready for talk to bring
peace back to Syria: Macron
Paris: French President
Emmanuel Macron has said he
was ready to talk to all, includ‑
ing Russia and Iran, to pave the
way for inclusive political tran‑
sition in the war‑torn Syria.
"I say it from the beginning,
to build lasting peace, one
needs to dialogue with Iran,
Russia and Turkey.
France's policy is to talk with
everyone. It's the condition to
have peace," Macron told news
Hezbollah, are both key allies of
Syria. Nato Secretary General Jen
Stoltenberg tweeted that those
who use chemical weapons "must
be held accountable".
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel ‑‑ who had ruled out join‑
ing the military action ‑‑ said she
supported the strikes as "neces‑
sary and appropriate".
UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres warned UN members of
their responsibilities. "I urge all
member states to show restraint
channel BFM TV, RMC radio
and Mediapart online news,
Xinhua reported.
Asked if using military force
would restore peace, Macron
said that "France is the country
that has been the most active in
terms of diplomacy and human‑
itarian aid in recent months,
and we came at a time when
this strike was essential to
give credibility to our
community."
in these dangerous circum‑
stances." China's Foreign Ministry
urged negotiation and called for a
"comprehensive and impartial"
investigation into the allegation
that chemical weapons were used.
Meanwhile, a fact‑finding mis‑
sion from the Organization for
the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons was to begin investigat‑
ing the episode on Saturday in
Douma, which had been held by
rebels before the suspected
attack.

Abe's popularity hits lowest Arab League summit kicks off;

over cronyism scandal focus on Jerusalem, Syrian crisis
Tokyo: Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe's popu‑
larity ratings hit its lowest
since he took office in 2012,
following his role in an
alleged cronyism scandal,
according to polls released
recently.
The Prime Minister's pop‑
ularity hit a record low of
26.7 per cent in a survey
conducted by Nippon TV,
while according to Asahi's
survey it fell by 31 per cent,
the lowest in more than five
years of Abe's term, much
lower than April 2013, when
Leaders from 22 member states are attending the summit.
his rating peaked at 65.7
per cent, reports Efe news. Dhahran (Saudi Arabia): The 29th Arab participating in the one‑day summit.
Abe's popularity plunged League (AL) Summit kicked off in Saudi Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
more than 10 points, after Arabia's eastern city of Dhahran, with leaders referred to the Palestinian issue as the top
his Finance Minister had from 22 member states attending it. agenda of the Arab meeting.
admitted in March that his The summit will focus on Palestinian‑Israeli "The Palestinian case is our priority and
ministry had faked docu‑ conflicts, the Syrian crisis especially after an will remain so until all the Palestinians gain
ments related to the sale of alleged chemical attack and the US‑led their rights," he said, stressing that East
state‑owned land at around airstrikes, Yemen's civil war, as well as fight‑ Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
one‑tenth of its price to a
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ing against terrorism, Xinhua news agency The king also denounced Iran's interference
has been called a ʻliarʼ. reported. in other states' internal affairs by committing
private educational institu‑
tion, with alleged links to the Prime ing him a "liar". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AL "terror acts", calling for the unity of the Arab
Minister and his wife, Akie Abe. The alleged cronyism scandal came to Secretary General Ahmed Aboul‑Gheit and world against it.
The new ratings come after nearly light in February 2017 but had died Chairman of the African Union Commission AL Secretary General Ahmed Aboul‑Gheit
50,000 people demonstrated over the down until the Finance Minister had Moussa Faki and High Representative of the noted that the crises gripping the Middle East
weekend in Tokyo against Abe's govern‑ admitted to doctoring documents at the European Union for Foreign Affairs and will further deteriorate and weaken the entire
ment and demanded his resignation, call‑ beginning of March. Security Policy Federica Mogherini are also region if not harnessed.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Innovation, technology to top Modi's
agenda in Sweden, England
New Delhi: When Prime Minister Narendra
Modi visits Sweden and England from April
16 to 20, during the course of which he will
participate in the first ever India‑Nordic
Summit and this year's Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM),
cooperation in the areas of innovation, tech‑
nology and education will top his agenda.
Modi will be the first prime minister to
visit Sweden in 30 years since the visit of
then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
On April 17, Modi and his Swedish coun‑
terpart Stefan Lofven will hold a bilateral
summit during which bilateral, regional and
global issues are expected to figure.
According to Sweden's Ambassador to
India Klas Molin, innovation is an important
aspect of the India‑Sweden relationship.
"How do we cooperate further, how do we
get our best and the brightest people
together, how do we also perhaps think
about funding certain areas, how do we go
into areas where we can cooperate even
more and develop new technologies, create
employment and sustainable solutions on a
number of issues," he said.
During Modi's visit, an India‑Sweden
India's Forex reserve
rises by over $500 mn
Mumbai: India's foreign exchange (Forex)
reserves increased by $503.6 million as on
April 6, official data showed. According to
the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) weekly sta‑
tistical supplement, the overall Forex
reserves rose to $424.86 billion from
$424.36 billion reported for the week ended
March 30.
India's Forex reserves comprise of foreign
currency assets (FCAs), gold reserves, special
drawing rights (SDRs) and the RBI's position
with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Segment‑wise, FCAs ‑‑ the largest compo‑
nent of the Forex reserves ‑‑ increased by
$657.7 million to $399.77 billion during the
week under review.
Besides the US dollar, FCAs consist of near‑
ly 20‑30 per cent of major global currencies.
It also includes investments in US Treasury
bonds, bonds of other selected governments
and deposits with foreign central and com‑
mercial banks. However, the country's gold
reserves value declined by $130.7 million to
$21.48 billion. In addition, the SDRs' value
inched lower by $10 million to $1.53 billion,
while the country's reserve position with the
IMF came down by $13.4 million to $2.07
billion.
BUSINESS
Narendra Modi will be the first prime
minister to visit Sweden in 30 years since
the visit of then Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi in 1988.
Innovation Partnership is also expected to
be launched.
"I think it is something we are discussing
with the Indian side but exactly how this
will look, of course, will have to be final‑
ized," the ambassador said.
"But I think it is a way of focusing our
attention on both sides to create a platform
US Energy Secretary to
meet Indian oil minister
New Delhi: US Energy Secretary Rick
Perry was set to arrive here this week to
hold bilateral talks with his Indian coun‑
terpart Dharmendra Pradhan on enhanc‑
ing energy cooperation.
His visit comes on the heels of the con‑
clusion of the 16th International Energy
Forum (IEF) ministerial here on Thursday
that returned to India after a gap of 22
years and which was attended by the US
Under Secretary of Energy.
According to a US Department of
Energy statement issued in Washington,
"the trip will conclude with the inaugural
Strategic Energy Partnership meeting co‑
chaired by Secretary Perry and India's
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Dharmendra Pradhan."
In the backdrop of the shale oil and gas
"revolution" in the US, the Indo‑American
energy cooperation has been growing in
the last few years.
The first liquefied natural gas (LNG)
shipment from the US, from the state of
that, in turn, can attract investments, that
can attract companies to plug in."
With education being another sector in
which the two sides are expected to forge
deeper ties, Molin said "we are hoping to
increase exchanges between our universi‑
ties".
"Student exchanges... graduates, doctorate
and post‑doctorate. The sky is the limit
here," he said.
On bilateral economic relations, the
Ambassador said that trade is growing on
both sides "and quite impressively so".
Though bilateral trade dipped to $1.9 bil‑
lion in 2016‑17 from $2.17 billion, both
countries have set a lofty total trade target
of $5 billion.
There are over 170 Swedish companies in
India that have invested $1.4 billion since
2000 while 70 Indian companies have
established their presence in Sweden.
On April 17, India and Sweden will also
co‑host the first ever India‑Nordic Summit,
where, apart from Modi and Lofven, the
Prime Ministers of the other four Nordic
countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and
Norway will also be present.
US Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
Texas, reached India last month to pro‑
vide a thrust to the country's move
towards a gas economy.
Earlier, the first oil shipment from
America had also landed in Odisha.
April 21-27, 2018 21
According to figures provided by the
External Affairs Ministry, India's trade with
the Nordic countries totaled around $5.3
billion in 2016‑17, with cumulative foreign
direct investment in India at $2.5 billion.
From Sweden, Modi will leave for Britain
on April 17 evening. T his is the third
exchange of prime ministerial visits after
Modi's visit to Britain in November 2015
and British Prime Minister Theresa May's
visit to India in November 2016, her first
outside the European Union after assuming
office.
Modi's visit to Britain this time has been
themed "Living bridge and tech partner‑
ship". Modi and May are scheduled to hold a
bilateral summit on April 18.
Regarding this year's Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
which Modi will attend in London on April
19‑20, the High Commissioner said that
around 50 heads of state and government
will be present.
The agenda, he said, will include climate
change, vulnerability of small island
nations, peacekeeping and helping poorer
countries.
State‑run gas utility GAIL India has
signed a long‑term contract to buy 3.5
million tonne of LNG per year for 20
years from Cheniere Energy of the US
and has also booked capacity for another
2.3 million tonne at Dominion Energy's
Cove Point liquefaction plant.
In this connect ion, T he US‑India
Business Council (USIBC) has lauded the
launch of the Strateg ic Energ y
Partnership.
"Energy is an increasingly central pillar
of the US‑India commercial and strategic
relationship.
Opportunities exist not only in oil and
g as, but in renewable energ y, civil
nuclear, infrastructure, ef ficiency, and
technologies such as energy storage and
smart grids," a USIBC statement said
here.
"USIBC member companies participat‑
ing in the delegation during Secretary
Perry's visit to India include
Westinghouse and ExxonMobil," it added.
 22 April 21-27, 2018 SPORTS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

CWG 2018: India third with 66 medals

Gold Coast (Australia): The star badminton
trio of Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and
Kidambi Srikanth were the center of
attraction as the paddlers continued to
snatch medals as the Indian contingent
ended its campaign at the 21st
Commonwealth Games (CWG) on a high.
India bagged a total of seven medals on
the final day. India finished the Games
with 26 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze
medals. This year's total of 66 medals is
the third highest haul for India in the his‑
tory of the CWG.
In the medal table, India was only
behind Australia (198 medals) and
England (166 medals).
India's best performance till date came
at home during the 2010 Delhi Games,
which produced a tally of 101 medals ‑‑
38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze.
The second highest medals tally of 69
came at 2002 in Manchester: 30 gold
along with 22 silver and 17 bronze.
Saina and Sindhu were involved in an
intense, high tempo women's singles final.
Saina, 28, displayed superb form to
clinch a 21‑18, 23‑21 victory for the
second CWG singles title of her
career. Her maiden CWG singles
gold came at the 2010 Games in
New Delhi.
For Sindhu, this was the second
CWG singles medal of her career,
the first being bronze at Glasgow
2014.
Srikanth was involved in an
equally entertaining men's
singles final against
Malaysian legend
Lee Chong Wei.
A l t h o u g h
Srikanth domi‑
nated the open‑
ing game, Lee
showed his
true class
later to reg‑
ister a 19‑
21, 21‑14,
21‑14 victory for the fifth CWG title of a
glittering career.
The last two games were totally one‑
The country finished the Games with 26
gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze medals
In the medal table, India was only behind Australia
(198 medals) and England (166 medals).
Modi hails India's performance
New Delhi: Cong ratulat ing India's cont ingent at the 2018
Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
said that the competitors will motivate more youngsters to pursue
sports. "India's contingent at the 2018 Commonwealth Games has made
every Indian extremely proud. All our sportspersons gave their best and
played very well. I congratulate all those athletes who are bringing back
medals," Modi said in a statement. "Every athlete who represented India
at 2018 Commonwealth Games inspires us. Their life stories illustrate
the power of dedication and a never‑say‑die attitude that
made them overcome countless hurdles to attain the
heights of success they did at the CWG," the PM added.
"I hope India's success at 2018 Commonwealth
Games motivates more youngsters to pursue
sports and creates larger awareness on the
importance of fitness in everyone's lives," he said.
"On our part, we in the Government are doing
everything possible to strengthen the FitIndia
movement."
Saina Nehwal defeated PV Sindhu to win gold
in women's badminton singles final.
sided as the veteran Malaysian star hand‑ to a spectator as Lee piled on the points.
ed out a masterclass in placement and T he men's doubles team of Satw ik
deception. Srikanth was virtually reduced Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also settled
India to become
sporting power‑
house: IOA
New Delhi: After the Indian contingent
finished third in the medals tally at the
21st Commonwealth Games (CWG), an
elated Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
Chief Narinder Dhruv Batra said the
nation is on the right path to become a
sporting powerhouse.
Congratulating the athletes, Batra said:
"On behalf of the IOA, I would like to con‑
gratulate each and every athlete who
part icipated in the Commonwealth
Games and brought glory to the country."
"Their hard work has paid rich divi‑
dends and I can proudly say that we as a
nation are on the right path to becoming
a sporting powerhouse," the IOA chief
opined.
Significantly, the 2018 CWG also
became India's third best outing ever in
the event's history. Over the entire
stretch of the event at the Gold Coast,
Indian athletes shattered 11 CWG
records.
"I wish all the athletes the very best in
this Olympic cycle and hope they contin‑
ue to improve upon their performance in
the lead up to 2018 Asian Games and the
2020 Olympic Games," Batra concluded.
for the silver medal after going down 13‑
21, 16‑21 to England's Marcus Ellis and
Chris Langridge.
In squash, defending champions Dipika
Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa settled for
the silver medal in women's doubles after
losing 9‑11, 8‑11 to New Zealand's Joelle
King and Amanda Landers‑Murphy.
This was Joshna's first and Dipika's sec‑
ond medal at Gold Coast after taking silver
in the mixed doubles with Saurav Ghosal.
"Might have fallen short on both my finals
but what a magical week it's been for me.
Thank you to both my partners for hold‑
ing me together through these 2 weeks.
#cwg2018," Dipika wrote on Twitter.

CWG organizers apologize for 'shameful' closing ceremony

Canberra: The organizers of the
2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth
Games have apologized for the clos‑
ing ceremony which has been
roundly criticized for not including
athletes.
Athletes, including the competing
countries' respective flag‑bearers,
marched on to the arena before the
ceremony commenced, meaning
the audience at Carrara stadium
could see them, but the TV audi‑
ence couldn't. Many athletes were
seen leaving the stadium while the
closing speeches were still in
progress, reports Xinhua news
agency.
The ceremony was even criticized
by Australian broadcasters,
Channel Seven, with former CWG
bronze Medallist Johanna Griggs
Fireworks during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth
Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.
saying during the live coverage she
was "furious" with the decision.
"They're actually wrecking a tra‑
dition that is so important and part
of the Commonwealth Games,"
Griggs said, live on air.
"Unfortunately tonight, the organiz‑
ing committee, together with the
host broadcasters, just didn't get it
right." Commonwealth Games
Chairman Peter Beattie acknowl‑
edged on Monday that organisers
made a mistake featuring athletes
in the pre‑show instead of the tele‑
vision coverage.
"If the athletes didn't come into
the stadium until the broadcast
time they would have been stuck in
a field or a paddock somewhere,"
Beattie told the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on
Monday.
Beattie, who had previously
described the CWG as "inspira‑
tional" and "innovative," said he
was disappointed the viewers at
home did not get to see the ath‑
letes. "We wanted athletes to be
part of and enjoy the closing cere‑
mony. However, having them come
in to the stadium in the pre‑show
meant the TV audience were not
able to see the athletes enter the
stadium. We got that wrong," the
Commonwealth Games chairman
said.
"The people who are angry are
justified. The people who have been
critical are also justified," Beattie
said. "Unfortunately tonight, the
organizing committee, together
with the host broadcasters, just did‑
n't get it right." In a social media
post, Beattie said the closing cere‑
mony telecast should have been
organized more appropriately.
"The speeches were too many and
too long. I was part of that and I
acknowledge it. Again, we got that
wrong," he wrote.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIAN PREMIERE LEAGUE 2018 April 21-27, 2018 23

KKR canter to 71‑run win over Delhi
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders rode on
Nitish Rana and Andre Russell's heroics to
snap a two‑game losing streak and register a
71‑run victory over Delhi Daredevils in a lop‑
sided Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at
the Eden Gardens here.
Put in by their celebrated former captain
Gautam Gambhir, KKR piled up 200/9 as in‑
form Rana smashed a 35‑ball 59 with Russell
clobbering a 12‑ball 44, that included six
sixes off Mohammed Shami.
In reply, Glenn Maxwell's 22‑ball 47 and
Rishabh Pant's 26‑ball 43 went in vain, as
Delhi were bundled out for 129 with mystery
spinner Sunil Narine (3/18) and chinaman
Kuldeep Yadav (3/32) plotting most of the
damage.
Delhi were reduced to 24/3 inside the first
three overs with opener Jason Roy (1),
Shreyas Iyer (4) and skipper Gambhir (8)
back in the hut. Leg‑spinner Piyush Chawla
(1/16) got Roy's back in the last ball of the
innings' first over with a slider down the leg
side which the England batsman missed and
went down the wicket for skipper Dinesh
Karthik to effect a stumping.
In the next over, Rana caught Iyer at first
slip off Russell's bowling while the big wick‑
et of Gambhir ‑‑ who is KKR's most successful
captain winning two IPLs with them ‑‑ fell to
U‑19 World Cup winner Shivam Mavi (1/14).
Pant and Maxwell then came together for a
62‑run stand for the fourth wicket before the
Kolkata Knight Riders celebrate after winning the match against
Delhi Daredevils in Kolkata. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)
former holed out to Chawla at deep midwick‑
et off Yadav.
From there on, it was all downhill for Delhi
as they lost wickets in a hurry.
Earlier, Rana played a gem of an innings,
selecting his shots with aplomb, as he hit five
fours and four sixes to set up KKR's
onslaught. This allowed Russell, who was
dropped on 7 by Roy, to go for the big shots
from the word go.
Russell hit six sixes in a three‑over period
where the hosts bludgeoned 54 runs before
leg‑spinner Rahul Tewatia (3/18) put a lid on
the proceedings by taking three wickets in
the last over conceding a miserly one run.
Rana and Russell stitched together a 61‑
run partnership in just 22 balls for the fifth
wicket.
Rajasthan beat
Bangalore by 19 runs
Bengaluru: Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 19
runs to register their second win in three
matches of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament.
Rajasthan put up a huge score of 217 for
4 wickets, riding on Sanju Samson's blister‑
ing 92 not out off 45 deliveries. RCB man‑
aged to score 198/6 as the southern outfit
suffered its second loss in three games.
Samson shared crucial partnerships with
Ben Stokes (27 off 21), Jos Buttler (23 off
14) and Rahul Tripaathi (14 not out off
five), as Rajasthan capitalised on a strong
start provided by captain Ajinkya Rahane
(36 off 20).
Right‑hander Rahane hit six fours and a
six to provide the early fireworks for the
visitors as they raced to 49 off 5.4 overs
till the dismissal of the Indian internation‑
al. Rahane hit a slower delivery from
English medium pacer Chris Woakes into
the hands of Umesh Yadav at mid‑on.
In the following over, the other opening
batsman D'Arcy Short (11 off 17) under‑
edged a delivery from leg‑spinner
Yuzvender Chahal and was caught by wick‑
et‑keeper Quinton de Kock.
These two quick wickets boosted RCB's
confidence ‑‑ only to be destroyed by
Samson and Stokes later. Both milked runs,
despite good bowling from Chahal and
Washington Sundar.

Punjab end Chennai's

Pos. Team Plyd. Won Lost Tied Net RR Pts.
1 Hyderabad 3 3 0 0 +0.772 6
2 Kolkata 4 2 2 0 +0.863 4
3
4
5
Punjab
Chennai
Rajasthan
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
+0.116
+0.103
-0.247
4
4
4
winning streak
Mohali: Kings XI
Punjab defeated
Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai to face Bangalore in by four runs to end
southern outfit's win‑

search for maiden win

Mumbai: Winless Mumbai Indians
was aiming to register their maiden
win against Royal Challengers
Bangalore in an Indian Premier
League (IPL) match at the
Wankhede Stadium here on
Tuesday.
Currently at the bottom of the
points table, Mumbai lost all the
three matches played. First, against
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the
season opener and then to
Sunrisers Hyderabad and in the
previous outing, Mumbai lost to
Delhi Daredevils.
In the upcoming match, they
would like to turn the tables around with
some good performance towards the end as
Mumbai lost the two of its encounters in the Sunday.
last over. The batting department of the
hosts failed in the first two games, and
when they clicked bowlers lost the control.
So in order to change their fortunes in the
upcoming match, Rohit Sharma‑led side will
have to take care to the small things on the
ground. Bangalore, on the other hand, have
a mixed start to the tournament, losing the
opening game to Kolkata Knight Riders but
bouncing back in style to outplay Kings XI
Members of the Mumbai Indians team.
Punjab at home and then losing a high‑scor‑
ing game to Rajasthan Royals at home on
So, to register their second win, Bangalore
need to set their bowling combinations
right as, apart from leggie Yuzvendra
Chahal, no other bowlers could rose to the
occasion.
The batting department seemed solid with
the likes of skipper Virat Kohli, Brendon
McCullum, and AB de Villiers. So if they per‑
form as per the expectations, fans could wit‑
ness another high‑scoring game.
ning run in the Indian
Premier League (IPL).
Put in to bat, Punjab
wasted their solid start
but managed to post a
challenging total of
197/7. In reply,
Chennai batters failed.
Apart from Ambati
Rayudu (49) and skip‑
per Mahendra Singh
Dhoni (79 not out), no
other batsmen seemed
comfortable in‑front of Chris Gayle and Kings XI Punjab co‑owner
Punjab's bowlers and Preity Zinta celebrate the win.
went cheaply to lose
the game. Big names like Shane Watson after their wickets, no other batsman took
(11), Murali Vijay (12), Sam Billings (9) and advantage of it and failed to score runs,
Ravindra Jadeja (19) failed to score hand‑ thanks to the Chennai bowlers' disciplined
somely in a big run chase. Towards the end, bowling.
Dhoni tried to pull off the things single‑ Rahul fell in the eighth over when the
handedly but failed and his 44‑ball unbeat‑ scoreboard was reading 96. After adding a
en innings went in vain. few more runs, Gayle also departed, cour‑
For Punjab, Andrew Tye scalped two tesy pacer Shane Watson, in the 12th over.
wickets. The West Indian batsman slammed seven
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab failed to make boundaries and four sixes.
the most of the flying start given by open‑ Mayank Agarwal (30) and Yuvraj Singh
ers Chris Gayle and Lokesh Rahul and set‑ (20), then tried to maintain the pace set by
tled for 197/7. the openers but in the process both depart‑
Rahul (37 runs in 22 balls) and Gayle (63 ed after a good start.
runs in 33 balls) gave the hosts a rousing For Chennai, Shardul Thakur and Imran
start, slamming 96 runs in eight overs. But Tahir scalped two wickets each.
 24 April 21-27, 2018
How China can help India take a giant
leap in Artificial Intelligence
By Nishant Arora
T
ech honchos in Silicon Valley
are deeply worried at
Chinaʼs rapid progress in
harnessing Artificial Intelligence
(AI) technology that has shown
encouraging results in changing
the way we work and live.
According to Eric Schmidt, former
chairman of Alphabet, the parent
company of Google, China will over‑
take the US in AI by 2025.
Measured by start‑up financing
deals and dollars from venture cap‑
italists, the United Statesʼ AI start‑
up ecosystem currently dominates
̶ followed by China, says a recent
Accenture analysis titled “Rewire
for Growth.”
When it comes to India, the num‑
ber of AI start‑ups has increased
since 2011 at a compounded annu‑
al growth rate of 86 per cent.
But the size of funding till date is
substantially smaller in India than
in the US and China, reflecting the
limited success of Indiaʼs AI start‑
ups in achieving scale so far, the
report noted.
“According to our analysis, AI has
the potential to add $957 billion, or
15 per cent of current gross value
added, to Indiaʼs economy in 2035,”
said Accenture.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
now wants that AI technolog y
should be “Made in India” and
“Made to Work for India” but
despite promising starts, the coun‑
Pentagon to track soldiers'
smartphones to spot their health
T
he Pentagon is working on
an app that will keep track
of US soldiersʼ health and
deliver cost‑saving treatment by
monitoring the data accumulated
on their smartphones, the media
reported.
According to The Washington
Post, scientists at the Pentagonʼs
secretive weapons development
arm wants to use soldiersʼ smart‑
phoneʼs camera, microphone and
motion sensors to monitor signs of
illness.
The Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) last week
announced that it has awarded a
$5.1 million contract to cybersecu‑
rity company Kryptowire to devel‑
op “Warfighter Analytics using
Smartphones for Health” pro‑
gramme (WASH) to spot diseases
based on data that it collects from
a personʼs smartphone.
“Ultimately, this could mean bet‑
ter treatment, cost savings and
making treatment available to
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(Image courtesy: forbesmiddleeast.com)
tryʼs policy initiatives are not com‑
prehensive yet and lag other G20
countries.
China, on the other hand, today
harbors one of the biggest clusters
of AI scientists.
According to T he Economist,
Chinaʼs State Council has issued an
ambitious policy blueprint, calling
for the country to become “the
worldʼs primary AI innovation cen‑
tre” by 2030.
“Chinaʼs AI programme is highly
structured and driven ʻtop downʼ
whereas Indiaʼs approach is more
ʻorganicʼ ̶ at least till this point ̶
driven largely by the private sector
and driven by their unique needs
for AI,” said Dr Prashant Pradhan,
Chief Technology Of ficer, IBM
India/South Asia.
more people,” Tom Karygiannis,
Kryptowireʼs Vice President of
Product, was quoted as saying.
However, the idea has led privacy
advocates raise questions on the
implementation.
“People donʼt want to feel like
someone is listening in on their pri‑
vate life. Thatʼs going to have to be
subject to t ight controls,” Jay
Stanley, a senior policy analyst
with the American Civil Liberties
Union, was quoted as saying.
T he WASH development pro‑
g ramme started last year and
would continue through 2021.
“The programme aims to develop
algorithms that use raw data from
smartphone sensors to enable con‑
tinuous and real‑time assessment”
of warfightersʼ health status, identi‑
fying latent or developing condi‑
tions and diseases, Jared Adams,
DARPA Communications Chief, was
quoted as saying.
According to a factsheet pub‑
lished by Pentagon, the app would
These represent very dif ferent
approaches to “getting ready” for
AI.
“Chinaʼs approach carefully man‑
ages investment, infrastructure,
focus verticals and training. This
has benefits in speed of execution
and outcomes ̶ especially when
there is clarity on the priority areas
of application,” Pradhan told IANS.
Advances in AI largely happen in
an open, peer‑reviewed community
with free exchange of ideas. “Over
time, there may be more coordinat‑
ed government investment ̶ espe‑
cially in resource‑constrained envi‑
ronments,” Pradhan noted.
W hen it comes to funding,
Machine Learning (ML), recommen‑
dation engines and computer vision
are the most popular segments of
collect data from smartphone fea‑
tures, including cameras, light sen‑
sors, pedometers, fingerprint sen‑
sors, microphones and other
sources.
Kryptowire officials said that one
goal of the research was to find a
way to keep that data private and
safe from hackers or leaks.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
AI, accounting for almost 80 per
cent of total funding globally.
“Big industry players that have
the financial strength and business
experience to invest in AI research
and development (R&D) typically
lead the strategic charge on global
competitiveness for their country,”
the Accenture analysis stressed.
Google, Amazon, Facebook and
Apple are spearheading AI innova‑
t ions in the US, and Alibaba,
Tencent and Baidu are funding the
AI research in China.
In line with the global trends, the
digital platform companies are
becoming the driving force of AI
innovations in India too.
According to Rajesh Janey,
Managing Director and President,
India Enterprise, Dell EMC, the
country is entering an era of monu‑
mental technological change, rich
with opportunity.
“Globally, businesses plan to
triple their investments in
advanced AI within five years. India
too will see the same enthusiasm,
with investments in AI jumping
from 31 per cent to 89 per cent in
the same time‑frame,” Janey told
IANS.
AI will improve our interaction
with technology, understand the
abundance of data and rely on the
predictions to automate excessively
complex or mundane tasks, said
Shaakun Khanna, Senior Director,
HCM Strategy and Transformation,
Asia Pacific at Oracle.
(Image courtesy: military.com)
In February, Modi inaugurated
the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial
Intelligence at the University of
Mumbaiʼs Kalina campus ̶ report‑
ed to be the first AI research lab in
the country.
US‑based philanthropist brothers
Romesh Wad hwani and Sunil
Wadhwani have established the
institute and want it to become like
San Francisco‑based non‑profit
“OpenAI” that has SpaceX and Tesla
founder Elon Musk as one of its co‑
founders.
In order to become a true AI pow‑
erhouse, it is high time that New
Delhi makes Beijing a bigger part‑
ner in fueling AI research at home.
According to Accenture, AI
research has been motivated by
societal needs in India so far and
the first step now is to create a
comprehensive, long‑term vision
and road‑map for AI.
“The national AI plan with clear
milestones should be set as a priori‑
ty. Here, India can follow the lead
of China which has laid out clear
targets for AI development in phas‑
es, initially by 2020 and going for‑
ward by 2030,” it added.
T he first crit ical thing is to
understand the role AI is likely to
play across multiple professions.
“Targeted augmentation in every
field will be the key to success
for the country to have an
AI‑ready workforce,” Prad han
stressed.
(IANS)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SELF HELP April 21-27, 2018 25

Are common myths holding Millennials want to say ʻI doʼ

you back from buying a home? to hi‑tech wedding registries
O
nce upon a time, wedding registries
were created so newlyweds would
have all the basic essentials to estab‑
lish their first home. But as technology has
evolved, so too has the registry. Gone are the
days where registries only include dishware
and candlesticks. Couples can now incorpo‑
rate modern must‑haves, like connected light‑
bulbs, voice assistants and smart showers.
Leading faucet manufacturer, Moen, com‑
missioned a survey conducted online by
Harris Poll in March 2018, which investigat‑ Digital voice assistants such as Amazon
ed what smart products would top the list Alexa and Google Home top the millennialsʼ
when it comes to millennial (ages 18‑34) lists of desired smart products
wedding registries and how this tech‑savvy
able today, why would you limit yourself to
generation may be reinventing the process of
towels and serving trays?” adds Maher.
registering.
Registry Reboot
One myth is that you need about 20% down payment. Fact is, the average down payment The Gift of Technology
among first‑time homebuyers in 2016 was just 6 % and, for repeat buyers, just 14 %. Across the country, young couples arenʼt

A
spirations of home ownership is
strong for Americaʼs families, yet
findings from the fifth annual
America at Home survey from
NeighborWorks America indicate several
perceived barriers to homeownership
among the majority of consumers.
Findings from the survey, which consisted
of 1,000 U.S. adults and 500 millennials
include many misconceptions about what it
takes to buy a home:
• The average millennial mistakenly
thinks the minimum required down pay‑
ment is 21.6 percent.
• Approximately 73 percent of all con‑
sumers and 62 percent of millennials said
they were not aware of or are unsure about
down payment assistance programs in their
communities for middle‑income homebuy‑
ers.
• Seventy percent of adults feel they donʼt
have enough money saved for a down pay‑
ment.
Experts believe that confusion about
down payment requirements and lack of
awareness about assistance programs are
holding back many people from pursuing
homeownership. “Before deciding if owning
a home is right for you, take time to under‑
stand your down payment options, and sep‑
arate myths from facts,” says Freddie Mac
Vice President, Danny Gardner.
For example, the average down payment
among first‑time homebuyers in 2016 was
just 6 percent and, for repeat buyers, just
14 percent. Whatʼs more, mortgage
options, such as Freddie Macʼs Home
Possible Mortgages, make it possible for
qualified borrowers to put down as little as
3 percent.
If your down payment is less than 20 per‑
cent with a conventional loan, youʼll have to
pay private mortgage insurance, an added
insurance policy that protects the lender if
you are unable to pay your mortgage.
However, mortgage rates ‑‑ despite their
rise in recent years ‑‑ remain at historic
lows, providing you with a significant
advantage.
There are also millions of dollars avail‑
able for down payment assistance. A great
place to start is right where you live. Many
state, county, and city governments provide
financial assistance for people in their com‑
munities who are well qualified and ready
for homeownership.
To help demystify down payments and
the home buying process, free tools and
resources are available at myhome.fred‑
diemac.com.
It may have once been a no‑no to ask for
just bending nuptial gift list rules, theyʼre
anything except traditional household goods.
rewriting them. With emerging technology,
But young nearly‑weds are modernizing reg‑
itʼs not just the presents that are being mod‑
istries by embracing the gift of technology:
ernized, the registries themselves are too.
l More than two in five millennials (42
Moenʼs survey found that of millennials
percent) would want to include smart home
who have ever had a registry, over two in five
products on their registry if they were regis‑
(43 percent) registered at online‑only retail‑
tering today, with digital voice assistants (66
ers, such as Amazon or Jet.com, while 23 per‑
percent), such as Amazon Alexa and Google
cent used a honeymoon registry, which allows
Home, topping their lists of desired smart
couples to request donations to use toward
products.
honeymoon experiences, and 18 percent used
l Would‑be grooms in particular seem to
a universal registry, where newlyweds‑to‑be
love tech – nearly half (48 percent) of male
can seamlessly link gifts from multiple retail‑
millennials who would want smart home
ers. Of millennials who have ever had a reg‑
products on their wedding registry would add
istry, only one in five (21 percent) registered
smart lightbulbs/light switches, smart ther‑
at a brick and mortar store without an online
mostats (42 percent) and a digital shower (32
option.
percent).
“Recent CDC research found that young
“Tech is trending when it comes to wedding
people are getting married later and living
wish lists,” says Andrea Maher, senior market‑
with partners before tying the knot, meaning
ing communications specialist, Moen. “Our
they may already have glassware, blenders
survey found that just as many millennial
and toasters,” says Maher. “As a result, gifts
would‑be brides would put smart home prod‑
like a hands‑free faucet for the kitchen or
ucts on their registries (43 percent) as glass‑
money toward honeymoon excursions are
ware (44 percent), with products like a robot
what couples really want and need.”
vacuum cleaner (65 percent) and a hands‑
Online tools like Zola and Honeyfund have
free faucet (39 percent) being some of the
made creating a modernized registry easy
most wanted items among those who would
and can help ease the minds of traditionally‑
want smart home products on their wedding
minded guests, as theyʼre able to see exactly
registry.” “After all, with the great gear avail‑
where their money is going.

Four facts about seafood and your health

W
e hear a lot about the important
nutrients in vegetables and fruits,
but the health benefits of eating
seafood regularly arenʼt always in the spot‑
light. It should be a no‑brainer when it comes
to seafood, which is packed with omega‑3s.
Yet, most Americans only eat one serving of
seafood a week.
Here are some evidence‑based facts to help
set the record straight.
1. How much seafood should I be eating?
Studies show that seafood benefits your
heart, eyes and brain, and may also help you
fight chronic diseases and memory loss. The
2015 Dietary Guidelines encourage all
Americans to eat at least two servings of
seafood each week. Thatʼs double the amount
most people currently eat. To reap the range
of nutrients found in seafood, try to get a
variety of fish in your diet, including shrimp,
salmon, canned/pouched tuna, tilapia and
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines encourage
Americans to eat at least two servings of
seafood each week. Thatʼs double the
amount most people currently eat.
pollock.
2. What if youʼre pregnant?
Seafood is especially important for preg‑
nant and breastfeeding women, as well as
young children, since it is one of the only nat‑
ural food sources rich in healthy omega‑3
fatty acids, EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA are
critical for brain and eye development, sup‑
porting the old adage that fish really is “brain‑
food.” One recent study shows that moms‑to‑
be who ate fish two to three times each week
had babies that reached milestones ‑‑ such as
imitating sounds, recognizing family mem‑
bers and drinking from a cup ‑‑ more quickly
than children born to mothers who didnʼt eat
fish regularly during pregnancy. Another
recent study found that pregnant women who
ate at least two seafood meals each week
helped boost their childʼs IQ up three points
by age 9. Learn more about the best fish to
eat during pregnancy at
AboutSeafood.com/seafood‑pregnancy.
3. How to get more seafood
Incorporating more seafood into your diet
doesnʼt need to be a challenge. Itʼs easy to get
the recommended two to three servings each
week by simply swapping out the protein
from your favorite dishes with seafood. For
example, chicken tacos become fish tacos, and
grilled steak salad becomes grilled shrimp
salad. Whatʼs more, seafood is just as healthy
whether itʼs fresh, frozen or canned, making it
a convenient item to stock up on when shop‑
ping, and ultimately helping you eliminate
wasted food in your household.
4. Start the day right
Nutrition experts recommend incorporating
protein into your breakfast as a way to boost
metabolism and balance your blood sugar lev‑
els for the entire day. Kicking off the morning
with tuna avocado toast or salmon on a bagel
will help keep you feeling fuller for longer,
prevent cravings before lunchtime and help
you reach your weekly seafood goals.
More nutrition facts, recipes and other
resources can be found at AboutSeafood.com.
(StatePoint)
26 April 21-27, 2018 HERITAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The Magic of Vedic Mathematics Part 10

Rediscovered half a century ago by the Puri Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha, Vedic Mathematics is a lightning fast mental math
system. We continue to serialize from ‘The Curious Hats of Magical Maths’ book that makes learning the system easy.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
The B2 visa‑ The pleasure visitorʼs gateway to America!
By Michael Phulwani, Esq.
& Dev B. Viswanath, Esq.
A TALK
B‑2 visa is a temporary
non‑immigrant visitor visa
for pleasure or personal
needs. This visa is for individuals
who are coming to the U.S. for
tourism purposes. Some qualifying
tourism purposes include:
8 Vacation;
8 Visiting family and friends;
8 Enrolling in a short recre‑
ational course of study such as a
two‑day cooking class;
8 Participating in a musical,
sports, or similar event if not being
paid for participation;
8 Medical treatment; or
8 Tourism
Travel activities not allowed to
take part in on a B‑2 visa:
8 Employment, whether paid or
unpaid;
8 Receive education which
credits to a degree or diploma;
8 Arrive in the U.S. as a part of
a crew of a ship or an aircraft;
8 Work as a journalist, foreign
press, or other information media;
8 Perform before a paying audi‑
ence;
8 Manage a business located in
the U.S; or
8 Permanent residence in the
U.S.
Am I Eligible for a B‑1 Visa?
In order to be eligible for a B‑2
visa an individual must meet the
following criteria:
8 The visit must be for a legiti‑
mate visitor purpose;
8 The trip must be for a specific
limited period of time;
8 You must be able to financial‑
ly fund the trip and stay on your
IMMIGRATION
own;
8 You can show proof that you
have a residence outside of the U.S.
and you have an intention of
returning at the end of the visit;
and
8 You donʼt have any other
restrictions that would not allow
you to be admitted in to the U.S.
such as an arrest or previous visa
violation.
The steps of the application
process for a B‑2 visa vary depend‑
ing at which U.S. Embassy or
Consulate you apply at. It is recom‑
mended that applicants NOT make
firm travel plans to visit the US
until they have their B‑2 Visitor
Visa in hand after interview and
approval.
Under a B‑2 visa an individual
may stay in the U.S. between one
and six months, six months being
the maximum. After the initial
period of stay ends, an extension
of stay may be granted for up to an
additional six months. The maxi‑
Answers
April 21-27, 2018 27
mum total amount of time permit‑ This is the appropriate visa for
ted in B‑2 status on a single trip is most, short term, visitors to the
one year, with limited exceptions. United States for pleasure and it is
Any dependents of B‑2 nonimmi‑ a convenient way to come quickly
grants, spouse and children under to the US. For more information to
the age of 21, are not allowed to see whether the B‑2 visitor visa is
obtain a dependent visa. Each right for you or you family or
dependent who will join the B‑2 friends you should contact an
visa holder to the U.S. must apply experienced immigration attorney
separately for their own B‑2 visa. with consular experience.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal
Attorney of The Banad Law Offices PC in the
United States, and Banad Immigration in
India for which Attorney Michael Phulwani is
also affiliated as Of Counsel. With Offices in
Manhattan, Queens, Bangalore, and Mumbai,
the firm is able to assist clients with all facets
of the immigration process, including
Employment Visas, Consular Visa Assistance,
Student Visas, Removal & Deportation, US
Citizenship and Green Card Applications
based on Family or Employment. Dev B.
Viswanath can be reached at
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999
Dev will be in India from April 28 to May 11.
You can contact his office for a consultation.
Extracted from ʻThe
Curious Hats of
Magical Maths ‑
Vedic Mathematics
for Schools Book 1ʼ
by James Glover,
with permission from
Motilal Banarsidass
(MLBD). Founded in
1903, they specialize
in Indology books.
For more informa‑
tion, Mr R.P. Jain,
email:
mlbd@mlbd.com.
US distributor:
southasiabooks@gm
ail.com
To be continued in
the following
issues of The South
Asian Times.
 28 April 21-27, 2018 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

To be reincarnated
in China, you have
to fill in a form
A
woman said recently that her dead
husband had returned to their
home reincarnated as a young cow.
It behaves just like him, said Khim Hang,
74, from the Kratie province of Cambodia,
without going into detail.
Sounds legit. Since cows divide their
time between eating, pooping and sleep‑
ing, you can totally see they can remind
people of married men.
"The young cow was born in March and
has attracted a strong following on social
media," Reuters reported. How depressing
it is to read that even farm animals have
better web skills than this columnist and
his peers.
Reincarnation was on my mind after
several recent references to it in the
media. For example, one news story was
headlined: "Pig in Australia steals 18
beers, gets drunk and fights cow". Reader
Mark Agee wrote: "I never believed in
reincarnation before but... Dad?"
Then a reader sent me a photo of a sign
af fixed to the tiger sanctuary in a zoo
somewhere in India: "Only those who
strongly believe in rebirth should risk
going near."
On the Western side of the planet, news‑
papers reported the sad news that the
delightful Carey Williams, author of books
on reincarnation, "passed away" in the
first week of March. Surely "took a break"
would make more sense? Indeed, I've
heard it said that tombstones of people
who believe in reincarnation should not
say "RIP" (Rest In Peace) but "BRB" (Be
Right Back).
One of my male friends says that the
existence of feminism is proof of rebirth:
"Feminists are when guys get reincarnated
as women." I don't know about his next
life but I suspect his current one may be
rather on the short side.
Now here's the curious thing. Birth rates
in the West and the Far East have plum‑
meted while they are rising in South Asia
and Africa. So if a Westerner, say Donald
Trump, gets reincarnated, there's a 75 per
cent chance he'll be Asian or African.
Hope he's cool with that. The food in
Mumbai's better than Western "food", any‑
way. In China, the law says that tulkus
(Buddhist teachers who have lived at least
one past life) must have filled in a
Reincarnation Application Form and had it
approved in their previous life. I am not
making this up. Look up China's State
Religious Affairs Bureau Order No.5 if you
don't believe me. This writer struggles to
believe in reincarnation, but has lots of
friends who do.
"Dying people see a light at the end of
the tunnel ‑‑ that's you being born into
your next life," explained the friend men‑
tioned above.
I told him that was even more depress‑
ing! After years of toil on earth, surely you
deserve at least a couple of weeks' holiday
somewhere (say the heavenly version of
an Ibiza nightclub) before rebirth? Life is
exhausting.
Unless of course you're a pet cow, and
only having to divide your time between
sleeping, pooping and eating. Maybe Khim
Hang's husband has got the right idea.
If one gets to choose, I would be reborn
as a potato. My wife could put me on the
sofa, and voila: Everything back to just
how it was.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN

New York Head Quarter

422‑S Broadway
HICKSVILLE Mahendra
NY 11801
By Mahendra Shah
516‑827‑1010
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession,
artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the
plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons.
Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
APRIL 21‑27, 2018
ARIES: You may not have it
easy on the academic front.
Running petty errands for sen‑
iors may become your lot this week.
Health needs to be taken care. Some
restrictions are likely to be imposed
on the work front, which may not be
to your liking. Donʼt bother much, as
you will get used to them. Lover may
demand a sympathetic ear for his or
her woes.
TAURUS: Keep your finger on
the pulse of a situation, if you
want to gain an upper hand.
You are likely to become a force to
contend with on the professional
front. Higher ups are likely to repose
full faith in you for carrying a project
through. Some of you are likely to
enter a higher pay scale bracket. You
will resolve to opt for a healthy
lifestyle in order to remain fit.
Romance may come a knocking for
some.
GEMINI: Someoneʼs untiring
efforts to promote your cause
will help you in creating a
niche for yourself. Your romantic
endeavours will be fruitful. You will
manage to turn a business trip into a
jaunt and enjoy it immensely. Getting
a job done to the satisfaction of a sen‑
ior is likely to give you a great sense
of achievement. You may shortly own
something expensive. Betting or spec‑
ulat ion may bring you into big
money. Health remains satisfactory.
CANCER: Donʼt get involved
in the personal life of othersʼ,
as it may not be appreciated.
Financial front seems rosy. Those in
the creative field may have to spend
sleepless nights in completing some‑
thing urgent. Dietary control will be a
dire necessity in keeping your health
intact. Lifestyle change may be need‑
ed to keep fit. Your laziness on the
academic front threatens to negate
your hard work.
LEO: Longing to meet your
near and dear ones may lead
to depression. Home front
requires your attention, so donʼt neg‑
lect it. Those seeking love will need to
be more discerning and seek compat‑
ibility first.
Driving down to a friendʼs place is
indicated. Those selling property may
have to hunt for the right customers
for a good bargain. Your focus may
waver on the academic front and
affect your performance.
VIRGO: You may have to keep
an eye out for the rig ht
indication to resume some‑
thing at work. A change of lifestyle is
likely to give some immense health
benefits.
Those feeling a bit suffocated in the
current profession will need to hold
their horses for the time being. You
may not be satisfied with your finan‑
cial situation and think out ways to
enhance your earning. Family may
not be too eager to let you go and set‑
tle someplace else.
LIBRA: Luck shines on those
hunting the job market.
Cordial relations with every‑
one may become an asset on the pro‑
fessional front. Higher studies may
beckon and make you enroll in a pres‑
tigious institute. Lover may make the
week special for you by doing some‑
thing you enjoy the most. A vacation is
in the offing, so pack your bags for
somewhere exotic. You will be able to
overcome a cash crunch by pre‑empt‑
ing the situation. Health remains
excellent.
SCORPIO: Bad mood of spouse
threatens to spoil the domestic
atmosphere, so make concerted
efforts to kiss and make up! Chances of
being ignored for a prestigious assign‑
ment cannot be ruled out on the aca‑
demic front. A senior may repose full
faith in you for tackling a situation at
work, so donʼt let him or her down. A
salary issue may take its own time to
get resolved. Those feeling a bit low this
week will find the family supportive.
SAGITTARIUS: Your attempts
at being extra smart may not
get you the kind of returns you
expect. Extra‑curricular activities may
take a major chunk of your time on the
academic front, but will get you recog‑
nition all the same. You will be able to
make some money on the side by
moonlighting or by some other means.
Romance is likely to give immense
pleasure to some. You will find your‑
self more energetic this week than
usual.
CAPRICORN: Some of you may
begin to plan for a vacation,
after something important is
over. Arranging a party or a function
at home is most likely for some. There
is a good chance of catching the eye of
someone who makes your pulse race!
Incomplete work may need to be com‑
pleted before you leave office, so pull
up your socks! Planning an overnight
picnic to the countryside is likely and
will prove most exciting.
AQUARIUS: Something that
you have been entrusted with
on the professional front may
not get completed in time. A rival may
attempt to tarnish your image on the
social front. You may feel reluctant to
join a group of health nuts and miss
out on a chance to get back in shape.
Travel may have its share of woes this
week, so be careful. You will need to
become more socially active by meet‑
ing people more often.
PISCES: Some more time may
be required for completing a
task, so project it now. You are
likely to shake your lethargy off and
go whole hog in achieving something
important on the work front. Your self‑
confidence will be apparent in a pres‑
entation and help clinch a deal. Some
of you will succeed in stabilising your
income. Something special is on the
anvil for you on the romantic front. A
comfortable journey is envisaged for
those travelling by road.
ASTROLOGY
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
21st April, 2018
Traits in you: Being ruled by Jupiter,
you are courteous, courageous, decisive,
ambitious, disciplined, and realistic. You
are gifted with high imagination power,
optimism, and enthusiasm. However,
behaving restless and dominating may
hamper your characteristics at times.
You need to work on your personality to
make yourself better as an individual.
Health this year: You may undergo
few minor health issues this year, which
may bother you for a long time. You can
go for yoga or meditation to restore your
good health. You need to take required
medication by consulting a doctor.
Finance this year: As far as finance is
concerned, you will be earning a lot of
money. You will be assigned to new proj‑
ects and those will be highly yielding for
you. You will gain enough profits from
your past investments. Your improved
financial status may bring you lot of hap‑
piness and joy later this year.
Career this year: You will be given
more responsibility this year as you have
proved yourself to be an ef ficient
resource for your employer. You may
expect a promotion or salary hike later
this year. You should guide your ordi‑
nates to perform better and bring unex‑
pected results for your organization.
Romance this year: Your relationship
with your partner may reach to new
heights this year as your love, trust, care
and concern will develop towards your
beloved. You may get married towards
the end of this year if you are yet to
marry.
22nd April, 2018
Traits in you: The influence of your
ruling planet Uranus makes you active,
practical, enthusiastic, courageous,
ambitious, and highly philosophical. You
are very proud of your traditions, culture
and rituals. You are highly religious and
have a very sharp mind. However, you
need to work on your impatient and
stubborn behavior.
Health this year: Your health will
remain good throughout the year. You
need to take utmost care of your health
to maintain it and remain fit. The health
of your family members might be a con‑
cern for you this year. Try and avoid
your bad habits and start practicing
yoga for the betterment of your health.
Finance this year: You will be fortu‑
nate enough this year to be among
financial gains. All you need to do is to
grab opportunities to earn money. You
will find plenty of earning opportunities
around you. However, you have to work
hard to gain that money. Overall, this
year will give you financial stability and
security.
Career this year: You will get enough
opportunities in your professional life to
prove yourself. You will create a better
impression on your seniors or higher
management, which may result in pro‑
motion. You should work efficiently to
maintain your respect at your work‑
space.
Romance this year: You will share a
blissful romantic relationship with your
spouse or partner. Your marriage is on
cards if you are yet to marry. You will
find your partner supportive enough in
every crucial situation.
23rd April, 2018
Traits in you: Your ruling planet
Mercury makes you realistic, reliable,
sincere, and optimistic. You are the mas‑
ter of an excellent memory power and
charismatic characteristics. You need not
get nervous at tough time as it may cre‑
ate a question mark on your capabilities.
Health this year: Your health will
remain good throughout the year. You
April 21-27, 2018
need to take utmost care of your health
to maintain it and remain fit. The health
of your family members might be a con‑
cern for you this year. Try and avoid
your bad habits and start practicing
yoga for the betterment of your health.
Finance this year: You may get bene‑
fits from your investments later this
year. This year seems to be an ideal one
to start investing in business, land or
gold. Your efforts to earn money may
pay off this time. You may go for new
partnerships. However, you should verify
the financial background of your partner
for your financial security.
Career this year: If you are a working
professional, you may face various pro‑
fession related problems this year. You
need to handle all the issues diplomati‑
cally else you may lose your job. You
may create wonder in the creativity field
if you are a writer, singer or actor.
Romance this year: You will find your
partner to be a huge emotional support
for you during the tough times of your
life. You may get involved in a matrimo‑
nial alliance.
24th April, 2018
Traits in you: As you are ruled by
Venus, you are simple, generous, cheer‑
ful, friendly, humble, honest and peace
loving. You are pretty interested to stay
in harmony with each and everyone in
your surroundings. You need to work on
your nature of being restless and pes‑
simistic.
Health this year: You will enjoy a bet‑
ter health this year as compared to last
year. However, the health of an aged
family member may deteriorate and that
will make you bothered. You may end up
spending lot of money for the health
issues of your family members.
Finance this year: Your past invest‑
ments may yield a lot of money for you
this year. You need to be extra cautions
while investing huge amounts as it is a
bit risky to put money on unpredictable
things. Overall, you will enjoy a strong
financial condition.
Career this year: You will be given
more responsibility this year as you have
proved yourself to be an ef ficient
resource for your employer. You may
expect a promotion or salary hike later
this year. You should guide your ordi‑
nates to perform better and bring unex‑
pected results for your organization.
Romance this year: If you are yet to be
in a relationship, this year is the ideal
time to find a partner. You will get ample
support from your spouse in any critical
decision you have to take. You should
show your love to your partner as it
strengthens your relationship.
25th April, 2018
Traits in you: As you are governed by
planet Neptune, you are blessed with
various positive characters. You are con‑
fident, decisive, generous, humorous,
honest, modest and optimistic. You are
not an admirer of arguments or silly
fights. You should work on your nature
of being selfish, pessimistic, and arro‑
gant.
Health this year: You will enjoy a bet‑
ter health this year as compared to last
year. However, the health of an aged
family member may deteriorate and that
will make you bothered. You may end up
spending lot of money for the health
issues of your family members.
Finance this year: Your undisputed
energy and enthusiasm to earn money
will make you financially stable this
year. You may go for property sale this
year and earn a lot of money.
Career this year: Professionally you
will enjoy a smooth life. You may get
recognition in your professional circuit
29
as a result of your hard work and dedica‑
tion. Your promotion is on cards. You
should take help of your seniors to learn
quickly and perform exceptionally well
as it would help you grow professionally.
Romance this year: You will spend a
peaceful life with your love interest this
year. You will lead a blissful life with
your beloved with lots of love, care, con‑
cern, and support.
26th April, 2018
Traits in you: Your ruling planet
Saturn makes you humble, honest,
focused, practical, realistic and enthusi‑
astic. You are blessed with enormous tal‑
ent and imagination. Along with the pos‑
itive characters in you, there are some
negative aspects in your nature. You
need to work on your nature of being
envious, unreliable, and indiscipline.
Health this year: Your health will
remain good throughout the year. You
need to take utmost care of your health
to maintain it and remain fit. The health
of your family members might be a con‑
cern for you this year. Try and avoid
your bad habits and start practicing
yoga for the betterment of your health.
Finance this year: You will be among
major financial gains this year. You may
go for a real estate transaction later this
year and this will bring you a lot of
money to cherish. You may start up a
new business. If you are already into
business, you may plan for expanding its
territory this year.
Career this year: Your interest and
enthusiasm to perform will make you an
extraordinary performer in your profes‑
sional circuit. You will be respected and
rewarded for your work. You need to take
the leadership responsibility to cement
your position in your organization.
Romance this year: You may try and
convert your long time romantic rela‑
tionship to a married one. You will be
enjoying a great life with your spouse
with lots of understanding, love, and
care. You need not get into any kind of
argument with your beloved this year.
27th April, 2018
Traits in you: Being influenced by
Mars, you are believed to be the master
of a charismatic personality. You are
courteous, courageous, energetic, realis‑
tic, modest, and responsive. You follow
religion very keenly. However, you have
few problems in your attitude and that
needs to be worked on for the better‑
ment of your individuality.
Health this year: Though you would
not face any major health related issues,
you should take extra care of your
health. Do not take unwanted risk of put‑
ting your health in stake. Go for regular
medical checkups.
Finance this year: You will be among
major financial gains this year. You may
go for a real estate transaction later this
year and this will bring you a lot of
money to cherish. You may start up a
new business. If you are already into
business, you may plan for expanding its
territory this year.
Career this year: You will be over
ambitious as far as your career goals are
concerned. Take time to plan your
career. Do not be in a hurry for a job
change. You will improve your skills and
expertise. You will find your work pretty
interesting and it will give you the job
satisfaction you wanted.
Romance this year: Your marital life
will go on smoothly with the gradually
growing understanding between you
and your spouse. You will get enough
support from your partner whenever
you are in a problem. If you are yet to
marry, you may need to wait for another
year.
30 April 21-27, 2018
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
I
f we were to look down upon
this physical world from a high
vantage point, we would find
the light of billions of souls shim‑
mering throughout the world.
Like a foaming sea, they move
about from one life to another,
from one form of living thing to
another. All the souls, when seen
in their true perspective, are the
same. They are all a part of God's
consciousness; they are all Light,
and they all have an innate bliss.
But if we look at the condition of
our world, we are appalled and
shocked by the suffering and pain
each form of life is undergoing.
We find strife and dissension
throughout the world. We find
countries at war. Many nations
are embroiled in internal conflicts.
We see religious groups at odds
with each other. Community strife
is widespread. Even within fami‑
lies we find discord and disharmo‑
ny. We find human beings killing
various forms of life, including
other human beings.
We wonder how there can be so
much pain and turmoil caused by
people who have within them the
same divinity of God. This seem‑
ing "fragmentation" of God into so
many souls was meant to bring an
increase in the Lord's happiness.
Just as a couple bear children to
increase their mutual love and joy,
so did God bring about the cre‑
ation of so many souls, so many
children. Yet the result is far from
what was intended. We who are
moving packets of bliss and all‑
consciousness are aware of great
pain and torment.
If we could return to our true
state and realize we are soul, we
would find lasting peace and
ecstasy. If we could tap deeply
within ourselves, penetrating
beyond the outer form of this
physical body and mind, we would
find a wellspring of eternal peace
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Peace, harmony and
human unity
We would discover the secret of
unity underlying the Universe.
Honoring saints,
founders of all religions
The various religious and spiri‑
tual traditions have more com‑
monalities than differences. The
common core of each is the same.
They believe in a higher power,
although called by different
names, which created all of us.
They also believe that we have a
spiritual core within us created by
the higher Power. They also speak
of tapping into this spiritual side
of ourselves through prayer, med‑
itation, or inversion to uncover
our Source. While language, termi‑
nology, and customs differ, at the
heart of all are practices that con‑
nect our true essence, the soul,
with the higher Power.
Saints, Masters, spiritual teach‑
ers, and enlightened beings, such
as Buddha, Jesus Christ, Mahavira,
Moses, Krishna, Rama, Guru
Nanak, Kabir, Maulana Rumi,
St.Teresa of Avila, Mira Bai, Hazur
Baba and many others came to
help connect people of their times
with the divine within them.
To understand the role of saints
and Masters, there is a story
about a lion cub that became lost
from its mother. A mother sheep
found the lion cub frightened and
alone in the wilderness. Out of
compassion, the sheep took the
cub and raised her as her very
own. The cub grew up with the
other sheep and began acting like
them. Crying, “Baaah, baaah,” it
even began to believe it was also a
sheep.
One day, a lion came by and
thought it strange to hear this
young lion baaahing like a sheep.
The lion asked, “Why are you
making sounds like you are a
sheep?” The young lion said,
“Because I am a sheep.”
The lion said, “Come with me.” It
brought the young lion to a pool
of water. “Look down into the still
pool,” said the lion. When the
young lion looked down, it
jumped back startled to see a
lionʼs face staring back at it.”
(Image courtesy: stockphotos.ro)
“See! You are a lion,” the older
lion told him. “That is who you
really are.”
We are in the same predicament
as the lion. We think we are the
body and the mind. We do not
realize that we are soul. We are
not sheep; we are lions̶true sons
and daughters of the Divine. The
stillness of meditation is the
reflecting pool in which we can
see who we really are. When our
body and mind are still,
We can see our own true self as
soul.
Meditation is a practical method
in which we can discover our true
self as soul and achieve spiritual
consciousness by reuniting our
soul with the higher Power. It is a
way to discover our true purpose
in life and to reach the goal of
enlightenment in this lifetime. In
this way, we can uncover who we
really are and can truly say that
we know ourselves.
Enlightened living
There is a quotation by the
great Greek philosopher, Socrates.
He said, “Our prayers should be
for blessings in general, for God
knows best what is good for us.”
This quote coincides with the
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
prayer to God to give us whatever
is good for us.
Time and again, whenever we
demand something from God that
is continually denied to us, it is
usually because we are asking for
something that is not good for us
ultimately.
There have been many instances
in which people prayed to God for
something, and God did not grant
their wish. Later they came to
learn that receiving the wish
would not have been a good thing
after all. Will a mother allow the
child to have poison? The child
may cry for it and throw a
tantrum, but if it is poison, the
mother will not grant it. Instead
the mother will give the child
what is best for him or her. The
child may not realize it at the time,
but as the child grows and learns,
the child is grateful for all the
things the mother denied him or
her that were ultimately not good.
Many people are anxious about
making choices. The way to be
sure we make the right choices
about what to pray for is to pray
that God gives us what is best for
us. God makes no mistake. Rather
than pray for something that may
or may not be the best for us, let
us pray for Godʼs will for us.
If we relax and rest in Godʼs will,
we will find that everything works
out for the best in the long run.
Meditation is a process of relaxing
in Godʼs will. Meditation provides
a time when we can let go of all
clutching and praying for this
thing and that. It is a time in
which we sit in a state of stillness
and surrender to Godʼs will. It is a
chance to let go of all our wants
and desires. We merely sit in a
receptive mood and ask God to
grant what is best for us. We will
find that God will give us much
more than we had expected.That
is the secret to enlightened living.
Through meditation, we will
find the treasure of spiritual
pearls to enlightened living that
will bring us peace, happiness,
and bliss. God wants us to live in
eternal peace and bliss in the spir‑
itual realm.
The essence
of religion
Saints from every religion teach
the same truth. They help us find
the common elements in each.
They have love and respect for
other great saints and the world's
religions. They recognize that
they are teaching the same Truth.
Although outer languages, cul‑
tures, customs, and the way of
dressing and greeting may differ
from country to country, the
essence of religions is the same:
there is one God, we are children
of one Creator, and our purpose is
to know ourselves, know God, and
love all.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji
Maharaj is an internationally
recognized spiritual leader
and Master of Jyoti
Meditation who affirms the
transcendent oneness at the
heart of all religions and
mystic traditions, emphasizing
ethical living and meditation
as building blocks for
achieving inner and outer
peace. www.sos.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info April 21-27, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info April 21-27, 2018